Although he was not prone to make excuses for his conduct to other people in general, he knew he would have to give some reason to Mr Brandon and Miss Roberta for his return to Virginia so soon after having left it.

He determined to make a visit to the mountains of North Carolina, and as Midbranch would lie in his way, of course he would stop there.

This he assured himself was not a subterfuge.
It was a very sensible thing to do.

He had a good deal of time on his hands before the city season, at least for him, would begin, and he had read that the autumn was an admirable time to visit the country of the French Broad.

How long a stop he would make at Midbranch would be determined by circumstances.