To this Lawrence replied with much gravity that he would be happy to do so.

“Mr Null has not yet come to my house,” said Mrs Keswick, “and it is very natural that one should desire to know the husband of her only niece who is, or should be, the same as a daughter to her.”

“A very natural wish indeed,” said Lawrence.

“I am not quite sure in what business Mr Null is engaged,” she continued, “and, although I asked my niece about it, she answered in a very evasive way, which makes me think his occupation is one she is not proud of.  I have reason to suppose, however, that he is an agent for the sale of some fertilizing compound.”

At this Lawrence could not help smiling very broadly.

“It may appear very odd and ridiculous to you,” she said, “that a person connected with my family should be engaged in a business like that, for those fertilizers, as you ought to know, are all humbugs of the vilest kind.  The only time I bought any it took my whole wheat crop to pay for it, and as for the clover I got afterward, a grasshopper could have eaten the whole of it.  I am afraid he didn’t tell her his business before he married her, and I’m glad she’s ashamed of it.  As far as I can find out, it does not seem as if Mr Null has any intention of coming here for some time; and, as I said before, I do very much want to know something about him—­that is from a disinterested outsider.  One cannot expect a recently married young woman to give a correct account of her husband.”

“I do not believe,” said Mr Croft, “that there is any probability that I shall ever meet the gentleman—­our walks in life being so different.”

“I should hope so, indeed!” interrupted Mrs Keswick.  “But people of all sorts do run across each other.”

“But if I do meet with him,” he continued, “I shall take great pleasure in giving you my impressions by letter, or in person, of your nephew-in-law.”  “Don’t call him that!” exclaimed the old lady with much asperity.  “I don’t acknowledge the title.  But I won’t say any more about him,” with a grim smile, “or you may think I don’t like him.”

“Some of these days,” he said, “you may come to be of the opinion that he is exactly the husband you would wish your niece to have.”

“Never!” she cried.  “If he were an angel in broadcloth.  But I mustn’t talk about these things.  I mentioned Mr Null to you because you are the only person of my acquaintance who, I suppose, is likely to meet with him.  In regard to that little company I spoke of to you, I have not quite made up my mind about it, and, therefore, haven’t mentioned it; but if I carry out the plan I will write to you at the Springs, and shall certainly expect you to be one of us.”  “That would give me great pleasure,” said Lawrence, in a tone which indicated to the quick brain of the old lady that he would like to make a condition, but was too polite to do so.

“If Miss March should agree to come,” she said, “it might be pleasant for you to make one of her party and ride over at the same time.  However, I’ll let you know if she is coming, and then you can join her or not, as suits your convenience.”