“Are Miss Haye’s things all ready?” asked Mrs. Nettley of Clam, while she nervously untied her apron.

“All’s ready that he has to do with,” Clam answered a little curtly.

“But has he to do with your mistress’s things?”

“He has to do with everything, just now,” said Clam.  “I wish the now’d last for ever!”

“How can we go to-night? —­ the boats and the stages and all don’t set off so late.”

“Boats don’t stop near Wutsey Qutsey,” said Clam.

Mrs. Nettley went off to make her own preparations.

When Mr. Landholm came again, after an interval of some length, he came with a carriage.

“Are you ready, Mrs. Nettley?” he said looking into that lady’s quarters.

“In a little bit, Mr. Landholm! —­”

Whereupon he went up-stairs.

“If you wish to go to Wut-a-qut-o, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, “my friend Mrs. Nettley will go with you and stay with you, till you have made other arrangements.  I can answer for her kindness of heart, and unobtrusive manners, and good sense.  Would you like her for a companion?”

“I would like anybody —­ that you can recommend.”

“My friend Cowslip’s little sloop sets sail for the neighbourhood of Wut-a-qut-o this evening.”

“Oh thank you! —­Will she take us?”

“If you wish it.”

“Oh thank you! —­”

“Would you not be better to wait till to-morrow? —­ I can make the sloop wait.”

“Oh no, let us go,” said Elizabeth rising.  “But your friend is very good —­ your friend who is going with me, I mean.”

“Mrs. Nettley.  But you need not move yet —­ rest while you can.”

“Rest!” —­ said Elizabeth.  And tears said what words did not.

“There is only one rest,” said Winthrop gravely; “and it is in Christ’s hand.  ’Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.’” —­

Elizabeth’s sobs were bitter.  Her counsellor added no more however; he left the room after a little while, and soon returned to tell her that all was ready.  She was ready too by that time.

“But Mr. Winthrop,” she said looking at him earnestly, “is everything here so that you can leave it?”

She dared not put the whole of her meaning into words.  But Winthrop understood, and answered a quiet “yes;” and Elizabeth lowered her veil and her head together and let him lead her to the carriage.

A few minutes brought them to the pier at the end of which the Julia Ann lay.

“You’re sharp upon the time, Mr. Landholm,” said her master; —­ “we’re just goin’ to cast off.  But we shouldn’t have done it, nother, till you come.  All right!”

“Is all right in the cabin?” said Winthrop as they came on board.

“Well, it’s slicked up all it could be on such short notice,” said the skipper.  “I guess you wont have to live in it long; the wind’s coming up pretty smart ahind us.  Haul away there! —­ "