"Where to? If you will go to Europe in the spring, we will take her over and leave her there with Catherine, but she may be married by that time."
"Give her a lecture," said Mr. Murray. "Show her that she is making a stupendous blunder!"
"Better show him!" said Mrs. Murray with a little resentment. "The blunder will be worse for him than for her."
"Explain it to her!" said he. "She has sense. Esther is a good girl, and I won't stand by and see her throw herself away on a church. I will speak to her myself if you don't."
"A nice piece of work you would make of it!" rejoined his wife. "No! If it is to be done, I suppose I must do it, but she will hate me all her life."
"Do it at once, then," said Mr. Murray. "The longer you put it off, the worse she will take it."
"I will talk with her to-morrow," replied Mrs. Murray; and the next day, when she went to take Esther to drive in the afternoon, her niece received her with an embarrassed air and a high color, and said:
"Aunt! I have something to tell you."
"Good heavens!" gasped Mrs. Murray.
"I am engaged to Mr. Hazard."