“Don’t you think,” said Junius, “that it is rather cool in you to ask me to assist you in this matter?”

“Not at all,” replied the other.  “If it had not been for you I should now be in New York, with no thought of present proposals of marriage.  But you came to me, and insisted that I should see the lady.”  “That was simply because she had expressed a strong desire to see you.”

“Very good,” said Lawrence.  “I tried to go to her, as you know, and was prevented.  Now all I ask of you is to help me to do what you so strongly urged me to do.  There is nothing particularly cool in that, I think.”

Keswick did not immediately reply.  “I am not sure,” he said, “that Miss March still wishes to see you.”

“That may be,” replied Croft, speaking a little warmly.  “None of us exactly know what she thinks or wishes.  But I want to find out what she thinks about me by distinctly asking her.  And I should suppose you would consider it to your advantage, as well as mine, that I should do so.”  “I have my own opinion on that point,” said Keswick, “which it is not necessary to discuss at present.  If I were to assist you to an interview with Miss March it would be on the lady’s account, not on yours or mine.  But apart from the fact that I do not know if she now desires an interview, I would not do anything that would offend or annoy Mr Brandon.”

“I don’t ask that of you,” said Croft, “but couldn’t you use your influence with him to give me a fair chance with the lady?  That is all I ask, and, whether she accepts me or rejects me, I am sure everybody ought to be satisfied.”

Keswick smiled.  “You don’t leave any margin for sentiment,” he said, “but I suppose it is just as well to deal with this matter in a practical way.  I do not think, however, that any influence I can exert on Mr Brandon would induce him to allow you to address his niece if he is opposed to it, and I am sure he would have a very strange opinion of me if I attempted such a thing.  At present I do not see that I can help you at all, but I will think over the matter, and we will talk of it again.”

“Thank you,” said Croft, rising.  “And when shall I call upon you to hear your decision?”

It was rather difficult for Junius Keswick to answer a question like this on the spur of the moment.  He arose and walked with Croft out of the arbor.  His first impulse, as a Virginia gentleman, was to invite his visitor to stay at the house until the matter should be settled, but he did not know what extraordinary freak on the part of his aunt might be caused by such an invitation.  But before he had decided what to say, they were met by Mrs Keswick coming from the garden.  Junius thereupon presented Mr Croft, who was welcomed by the old lady with extended hand and exceeding cordiality.

“I am very glad,” she said, “to meet a friend of my nephew.  But where are you going, Sir?  Certainly not toward your horse.  You must stay and dine with us.”