'Very well, Joel, if you advise it. I have nobody else to advise me,' and she burst into tears. Joel remained calm. He had previously made up his mind just what to do, and he brought all the energy of his nature to sustain him. His composed air helped to restore Ellen--she tried to be as calm as he. 'But aunt, since she came, has not invited me return with her,' she said. 'Oh! but she will, I am sure,' replied Joel, and he went out rather abruptly; for here was an obstacle to his plan which did not occur to him before. He proceeded at once to the aunt, and found her preparing to leave that afternoon. 'You will take Ellen with you, I suppose?' he said. 'I am sure I had not thought of doing it. You know all the children are home, and really we have no room at present.' Two weeks previous she had written a pressing invitation to Ellen to come at this particular time. Joel bluntly reminded her of it. 'Yes, but circumstances alter cases. The fact is, I can't afford to maintain the girl, and I don't think I had better begin; and that's the English of it, Joel, if you force me to say so. You know very well there won't be a cent left.' 'I think I know more about that than you do,' replied Joel, with an air which would have done credit to a _diplomat_, 'and, I assure you, Ellen will _not_ be left penniless; and if you will insist on her going with you for a short time--mind, I say _insist_--I promise before long to make certain disclosures which will satisfy you as to my assertion. But she must not be here while they are settling up. You understand.' The old lady did not understand, but Joel carried his point by the aid of the mystery with which he surrounded it. It put her on her good behavior at once, lest she should lose the promised revelation. She spoke even affectionately to Ellen, and declared she should not let her remain in the house alone, but she must go home with her. Before the two left Sudbury, Joel had a very long interview with Ellen. What passed at that interview never transpired, but the young girl's countenance, though very sad, did not wear the desolate and despairing expression which it exhibited before. The stage now drew up, the ladies got in, and it rolled away, leaving Joel and the deputy-sheriffs the sole possessors of the premises. CHAPTER VI.