Mrs Keswick saw that it would be to her interest, for a time at least, to make friends with him; and this was the way she took to do it.

She would not come to Midbranch herself, and bring the niece, but she would have Roberta come to her.

In the pathos and cordiality Mr Brandon believed not at all.

What the old hypocrite probably wanted was to enlist his grateful sympathy in that ridiculous divorce case.

But, whatever her motives might be, he would be very glad to have his niece go to her; for if anything could make an impression upon that time-hardened and seasoned old chopping-block of a woman, it was Roberta's personal influence.