Was it a purely disinterested motive he asked himself, that took him over to the Springs to bring back Lawrence Croft?  Did he not believe in his soul that Roberta would never have spoken so freely to him in regard to what the gentleman from the North would probably say to her if she had not intended to decline that gentleman’s offer?  And was there not a wish in his heart that this matter might be definitely and satisfactorily settled before Roberta and Mr Croft went to New York for the winter?  He could not deny that this issue to the affair had been in his mind; and yet he felt that he could conscientiously assure himself that if he had thought things would turn out otherwise, he still would have endeavored to make the man perform the duty expected of him by Roberta, in whose service Junius always felt himself to be.  But, apparently, he had not benefited himself or anybody else, except, perhaps, Croft, by this service which he had performed.

It was late in the forenoon when Junius met Mr Brandon returning to Midbranch.  In answer to his expressions of surprise, Mr Brandon, who appeared in an exceptionally good humor, informed Junius of his reasons for the visit to the widow Keswick, and what he had found when he arrived there.

“Your little cousin,” said he, “is a most charming young creature, and on interested motives I should oppose your going to your aunt’s house, were it not for the fact that she is married, and, therefore, of no danger to you.  I was very glad to find her there.  Her influence over your aunt will, I think, be highly advantageous, and the first fruit of it is that the old lady will now welcome you with open arms.  Would you believe it! she has already announced that she wishes to make a match between you and this little cousin; and in order to do so, has actually engaged me to endeavor to bring about a divorce between the young lady and her absent husband.  The widow Keswick has as many cranks and crotchets in her head as there are seeds in a tobacco pod; but this is the queerest and the wildest of them all.  The couple seem very much attached to each other, and nothing can be said against the husband except that he did not accompany his wife on her visit to her relatives; and if he knew anything about the old lady I don’t blame him a bit.  Now your course, my dear boy, is perfectly plain.  Let your aunt talk as much as she pleases about this divorce, and your union with the little Annie.  It won’t hurt anybody, and she must talk herself out in time.  In the mean time take advantage of the present circumstances to mollify and tone down, so to speak, the good old lady.  Make her understand that we are all her friends, and that there is no one in the connection who would wish to do her the slightest harm.  This would be our Christian duty at any time, but it is more particularly our duty now.  I would like you to bring your cousin over to see us before Roberta goes away.  I invited her to come, and told her that my niece would first call upon