Fortunately for her, this was the day of the week when the foreign mail came in. A letter from her dearest friend would restore her spirits. While she was waiting for it, thoughts of Mr. Lambert would intrude, and she was surprised that, knowing him so intimately as she had for some years, she was so little acquainted with his early life. "I wish I could comfort him as daughter would. Did he really disbelieve every thing, as he pretended?"
She at last put on her hat and, summoning Hepsey, went to call on Esther. She was recovering from her fright, and seemed relieved that she was freed from a bond which had proved such a burden to her.
"I advise her to go back to her old name again," explained Mrs. Cole. "Esther Sims she is to be from this time."
Miss Howard promised that Hepsey should accompany Esther to a clothing store, where suitable outfit would be provided for her, which she could pay for with her after-earnings.
"Am I to go into the cigar factory?" inquired Esther, with a shudder.
"Oh, no! You are to live with me. Hepsey has adopted you," laughing. "I can speak for her that she will be strict, but kind."
Esther looked up suddenly, as though she scarcely understood, but, seeing the bright smile on Miss Howard's face, her own grew radiant then, with a quick movement, she threw herself on her knees before the lady, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks.
"Poor child!" murmured Marion. "She has known so little the comfort of a home."
"Or having real friends to care for her," interrupted Hepsey, wiping her own eyes.
It was indeed a change in Esther's life, difficult for her, at least, to comprehend. For days after she went to live with her kind friends, she seemed to herself to be in a dream. Nothing made it seem so real as the prayers Mr. Mitchell offered when they all gathered around the family altar. As she told Hepsey afterward, she would go without food rather than to lose the opportunity of being present.