her were it not for the peculiar circumstances.  But if the families can be in a measure brought together—­and I shall make it a point to ride over there occasionally—­if your aunt can be made to understand the kindly feelings we really have toward her, and can be induced to set aside, even in a slight degree, the violent prejudice she now holds against us, all may yet turn out well.  Now go, my boy, and may the best of success go with you.  Don’t trouble yourself about sending back the horse.  Keep him as long as you want him.”

Mr Brandon rode on, leaving Junius to pursue his way.  “It is very pleasant,” thought the young man, who had said scarcely a word during the interview, “to hear Mr Brandon talk about all turning out well, but when he gets home he may discover that there is something to be done at Midbranch as well as on the Keswick place.”

Mr Brandon’s reflections were very different from those of Junius.  It appeared to him that a reconciliation between the two families, even though it should be a partial one, was reasonably to be expected.  That newly arrived cousin was an angel.  She was bound to do good.  A marriage between his niece and Junius Keswick was the great object of the old gentleman’s heart, and he longed to see the former engagement between them re-established before Roberta went to New York, where her beauty and attractiveness would expose his cherished plan to many dangers.

The road he was on led directly north, and it was joined about a quarter of a mile above by the road which ran through the woods to the Green Sulphur Springs.  On this road, at a point nearly opposite to him, he could see, through the foliage, a horseman riding toward the point of junction.  Something about this person attracted his attention, and Mr Brandon took out a pair of eye-glasses and put them on.  As soon as he had obtained another good view of the horseman he recognized him as Mr Croft.  The old gentleman took off his glasses and returned them to his vest pocket, and his face began to flush.  In his early acquaintance with Mr Croft he had not objected to him, because he wished his niece to have company, and he had a firm belief in the enduring quality of her affection for Junius.  But, latterly, his ideas in regard to the New York gentleman had changed.  He had thought him somewhat too assiduous, and when he had unexpectedly returned from the North, Mr Brandon had not been at all pleased, although he had been careful not to show his displeasure.  This condition of things made him feel uneasy, and had prompted his visit to the widow Keswick.  And now that everything looked so fair and promising, here was that man, whom he had supposed to have left this part of the country, riding toward his house.

Mr Brandon was an easy-going man, but he had a backbone which could be greatly stiffened on occasion.  He sat up very straight on his horse, and urged the animal to a better pace, so that he arrived first at the point where the roads met.  Here he awaited Mr Croft, who soon rode up.  The old gentleman’s greeting was very courteous.