“You are the only person I know with a head,” said she to Catherine.  “You have some common sense and can help me.  I want to take Esther out of this place within six hours.  Can you manage to get every thing ready?”

“I will run it all if you will take care of Esther,” replied Catherine.  “I’m not old enough to boss her.”

“All you will have to do is to see that your trunks are packed for a week’s absence and you are both ready to start by eight o’clock,” answered Mrs. Murray.  “Do you attend to that and I will look out for the rest.  Now wait here a few minutes while I go up and see Esther!”

Catherine wished nothing better than to start any where at the shortest notice.  She was tired of the long strain on her sympathies and feelings, and was glad to be made useful in a way that pleased her practical mind.  Mrs. Murray went up to Esther’s room.  All was quiet inside.  The storm had spent itself.  Knowing that her aunt would come, Esther had made the effort to be herself again, and when Mrs. Murray knocked at the door, the voice that told her to come in was firm and sweet as ever.  Esther was getting ready for her drive, and though her eyes, in spite of bathing, were red and swollen, they had no longer the anxious and troubled look of a hunted creature which had so much alarmed Mrs. Murray for the last few days.  Her expression was more composed than it had been for weeks.  Her love had already become a sorrow rather than a passion, and she would not, for a world of lovers, have gone back to the distress of yesterday.

Mrs. Murray took in the whole situation at a glance and breathed a breath of relief.  At length the crisis was past and she had only to save the girl from brooding over her pain.  Without waiting for an explanation, she plunged into the torrent of Esther’s woes.

“Mr. Murray and I are going to Niagara by the night train.  I want you and Catherine to go with us.”

“You are an angel!” answered Esther.  “Did Catherine tell you how I wanted to run away!  You knew it would be so?  I will go any where; the further the better; but how can I drag you and poor Uncle John away from town at this season?  Can’t I go off alone with Catherine?”

“Nonsense!” said her aunt briefly.  “I shall be glad to get away from New York.  I am tired of it.  Get your trunks packed!  Put in your sketching materials, and we will pick you up at eight o’clock.  George shall come on to-morrow and pass Sunday with us.”

Esther thanked her aunt with effusion.  “I am going to show you how well I can behave.  Uncle John shall not know that any thing is the matter with me unless you tell him.  I won’t be contemptible, even if I have got red eyes.”