"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.