decease; after that, I'll board with them. And I'm not sure,
Robert, but I like the plan of coming here best. There are lots of
improvements we could make on this place, with you to furnish the
money, and me to advise and direct. The first thing I'd do would be
to have down those abominable steps over the front fence, and put a
decent gate in its place; and then we would have a gravelled walk
across the yard to the porch, wide enough for you and me, Robert,
to walk together arm-in-arm when we would go out to look over the
plantation, or stroll down to that spot on the branch, Robert, where
the first plightings of our troth began."

The words of tender reminiscence, and of fond though rather late
devotion, with which Mrs Keswick had stabbed and gashed the soul of
the poor old gentleman, had at first deranged his senses, and then
driven him into a state of abject despair, but the practical remarks
which succeeded seemed to have a more direful effect upon him. The
idea of the being with the sun-bonnet and the umbrella entering into
his life at Midbranch, tearing down the broad steps which his honored
father had built, cutting a gravelled path across the green turf which
had been the pride of generations, and doing, no man could say what
else, of advice and direction, seemed to strike a chill of terror into
his very bones.

The quick perception of Mrs Keswick told her that it was time to
terminate the interview. "I will not say anything more to you now,
Robert," she said. "Of course you have been surprised at my coming to
you to-day, and accepting your offer of marriage, and you must have
time to quiet your mind, and think it over. I don't doubt your
affection, Robert, and I don't want to hurry you. I am going to stay
here to-night, so that we can have plenty of time to settle everything
comfortably. I'll go now and get one of the servants to show me to a
room where I can take off my things. I'll see you again at dinner."

And, with a smile of antiquated coyness, she left the room.

CHAPTER XXX.

Mr Brandon was not a weak man, nor one very susceptible to outside
influences, but, in the whole course of his life, nothing so
extraordinarily nerve-stirring had occurred to him as this visit of
old Mrs Keswick, endeavoring to appear in the character of the young
creature he had wooed some forty-five years before. For a long time,
Mrs Keswick had been the enemy of himself and his family; and many a
bitter onslaught s