very natural regrets at
the necessary termination of these happy autumn days were a good deal
tempered by the fact that Lawrence intended to return in a few weeks,
and that then the final arrangements would be made for their marriage.
It was not easy to decide what these arrangements would be, for in
spite of the many wrongnesses of the old lady's head and heart, Annie
had conceived a good deal of affection for her aunt, and felt a strong
disinclination to abandon her to her lonely life, which would be more
lonely than before, now that Junius was to be married. On the other
hand, Lawrence, although he had discovered some estimable points in
the very peculiar character of Mrs Keswick, had no intention of living
in the same house with her. This whole matter, therefore, was left in
abeyance until the lovers should meet again, some time in December.

Lawrence and Annie had desired very much that Junius should visit them
before Mr Croft's departure for the North, for they both had a high
esteem for him, and both felt a desire that he should be as well
satisfied with their matrimonial project as they were with his. But
they need not have expected him. Junius had conceived a dislike for Mr
Croft, which was based in great part upon disapprobation of what he
himself had done in connection with that gentleman; and this manner
of dislike is not easily set aside. The time would come when he would
take Lawrence Croft and Annie by the hand, and honestly congratulate
them, but for that time they must wait.

Lawrence departed in the afternoon; and the next day Mrs Keswick set
about that general renovation and rearrangement of her establishment
which many good housewives consider necessary at certain epochs, such
as the departure of guests, the coming in of spring, or the advent of
winter. These arrangements occupied two days, and on the evening that
they were finished to her satisfaction, the old lady informed her
niece, that early the next morning, she was going to start for
Midbranch, and that it was possible, nay, quite probable, that she
would stay there over a night. "I might go and come back the same
day," she said, "but thirty miles a day is too much for Billy, and
besides, I am not sure I could get through what I have to do, if I do
not stay over. I would take you with me but this is not to be a mere
visit; I have important things to attend to, and you would be in the
way. You got along so well without me when you first came