a holiday than to attack his long arrears of work, the idea of running up to Niagara for Sunday happened to strike him as pleasant, and he promised to join Strong at the Erie Station in the morning.  Strong knew him too well to count on his keeping the engagement, but could do no more, and they both left the club to make their preparations.  Strong had another duty.  Before stirring further, he must talk with Hazard.  The affair was rapidly taking a shape that might embarrass them both.

Going directly to Hazard’s house, he burst into the library, where he found his friend trying to work in spite of the heavy load on his mind.  Throwing him Mrs. Murray’s note, Strong waited without a word while Hazard read it more eagerly than though it had been a summons to a bishopric.  The mysterious good-by, which had arrived but a few minutes before, had upset his nerves, and at first the note which Strong brought reassured him, for he thought that Mrs. Murray was earning out his own wishes and drawing Esther nearer to him.

“Then we have succeeded!” he cried.

“Not much!” said Strong dryly.  “It is a genuine flight and escape in all the forms.  You are out-generaled and your line of attack is left all in the air.”

“I shall follow!” said Hazard, doggedly.

“No good!  They are in earnest,” replied Strong.

“So am I!” answered the clergyman sharply, while Strong threw himself into a chair, good-natured as ever, and said: 

“Come along then!  Will you go up with Wharton and me by the early train to-morrow?”

“Yes!” replied Hazard quickly.  Then he paused; there were limits to his power and he began to feel them.  “No!” he went on.  “I can’t get away to-morrow.  I must wait till Sunday night.”

“Better wait altogether,” said Strong.  “You take the chances against you.”

“I told her I should follow her, and I shall,” repeated Hazard stiffly.  He felt hurt, as though Esther had rebelled against his authority, and he was not well pleased that Strong should volunteer advice.

“Give me my orders then!” said Strong.  “Can I do any thing for you?”

“I shall be there on Monday afternoon.  Telegraph me if they should decide to leave the place earlier.  Try and keep them quiet till I get there!”

“Shall I tell them you are coming?”

“Not for your life!” answered Hazard impatiently.  “Do all you can to soothe and quiet her.  Hint that in my place you would come.  Try to make her hope it, but not fear it.”

“I will do all that to the letter,” said Strong.  “I feel partly responsible for getting you and Esther into this scrape, and am ready to go a long way to pull you through; but this done I stop.  If Esther is in earnest, I must stand by her.  Is that square?”

Hazard frowned severely and hesitated.  “The real struggle is just coming,” said he.  “If you keep out of the way, I shall win.  So far I have never failed with her.  My influence over her to-day is greater than ever, or she would not try to run away from it.  If you interfere I shall think it unkind and unfriendly.”