"Aunt Clara, if that is the case, I must hurry home and help Rachel; she may need me; and you and Ellen can get along without me," said Diantha.
"Oh, I shall be frightened, Dian. Just Aunt Clara and me here all this dreadful night," cried out Ellen.
"Hush, child! Why should we be frightened? No one wants anything of us. Go right on, Dian; you are needed at home. No doubt my sister will be here before long," expostulated Aunt Clara.
Ellen was fain to be comforted; her heart yearned for the presence of her dear friend Dian in this hour of common peril and distress. Yet she had Aunt Clara, and she must be content.
As Dian left the door, Charlie stood beside her and she whispered:
"Go back, Charlie, and stay with Aunt Clara awhile. I am not a bit afraid to run over home alone."
"Dian, let me come with you. I will come back to Aunt Clara; but I can't bear to see you or any of our girls out alone on the streets."
"Why, we always go out on the streets alone, when we have any occasion to; why should we be afraid now?"
But the young man was walking by her side even as she protested. As they reached Dian's gate he put a detaining hand upon her arm and said, earnestly:
"I have to go back to camp in Echo Canyon tomorrow; Dian, will you miss me?"