Several times during the night Aunt Libby came in and tried to induce Tavia to take another room, and allow her to stay with Dorothy, but the volunteer nurse would not leave her post.

“Do go, Tavia,” said Dorothy, who had just opened her eyes, and heard Aunt Libby’s argument, “I’m all right now; only nervous.”

“But I’ve promised myself a whole night with you, and I’m not going to be chased away, just at the witching hour,” Tavia insisted.

But tired nature produced an argument incontrovertible, and when Tavia stretched out on the comfortable cot, and tried to chat as lively to Dorothy as if it had been mid-day on the side porch, she began to feel drowsy, then she noticed Dorothy did not answer promptly, and so she made her words “long and draggy” as mothers do when babies show signs of “giving in.”  Presently there was a hush—­both nurse and patient were sound asleep.

When Dr. Gray called the next morning he advised a complete change for Dorothy.  She was physically well enough, he said, but the shock to her nervous system might result in complete prostration, unless her mind was speedily disabused of the unpleasant memory.

Major Dale knew this advice was wise, and he concluded to send Dorothy to visit his sister, Mrs. Winthrop White, of North Birchland.

“Pleasant company,” said the doctor to Major Dale as he left, “is all the girl wants.  I wouldn’t wonder but that little friend of hers—­the lively one,—­would help her, if it could be made convenient for her to go along.”

Convenient?  That uncertainty had nothing to do with circumstances important to his daughter’s health, Major Dale decided.  If Tavia’s company would be beneficial to Dorothy’s health Tavia should go to North Birchland with Dorothy.

The question of school did not signify, either, the major reasoned, for if Tavia could not afford to lose the remaining weeks in the term he would see that they were made up for, amply.

Arrangements were quickly made, letters dispatched back and forth, and before the girls had time to think it over themselves, they were told to be ready for the morning train.

“Oh, isn’t it perfectly grand!” exclaimed the excited Tavia, “but do you think, Doro, I will be able to behave myself, to eat properly and all that?”

“Why, Tavia,” answered Dorothy, “you will find real aristocratic people are as simple as we are in manners; it is only those who try to be ‘somebody,’ and who do not know how, that make such a fuss over everything.  Aunt Winnie is a lovely lady—­we call her Winnie from Winthrop, because her own name is Ruth and we have another Aunt Ruth out West.”

“Lucky thing I had my ‘new’ dress, and all the other things Aunt Mary sent by express last week.  And father’s new suit case his men presented him with when he left the factory—­wasn’t that providential?” asked Tavia.

Dorothy admitted it was fortunate, and so, as this was the very evening before their departure, the girls arranged such matters as required consultation and then hurried off to attend to so many little things necessary for travelers.