Dunscombe declared herself rejoiced that any other hands
should have taken the charge of her.
After dinner Ellen and her friend went up to the promenade-
deck again, and there, for a while, they paced up and down,
enjoying the pleasant air and quick motion, and the lovely
appearance of everything in the mild hazy sunlight. Another
gentleman, however, joining them, and entering into
conversation, Ellen silently quitted her friend's hand, and
went and sat down at the side of the boat. After taking a few
turns more, and while still engaged in talking, he drew his
little hymn-book out of his pocket, and, with a smile, put it
into Ellen's hand as he passed. She gladly received it, and
spent an hour or more very pleasantly, in studying and turning
it over. At the end of that time, the stranger having left
him, Ellen's friend came and sat down by her side.
"How do you like my little book?" said he.
"Oh, very much indeed, Sir."
"Then you love hymns, do you?"
"Yes, I do Sir, dearly."
"Do you sometimes learn them by heart?"
"Oh yes, Sir, often. Mamma often made me. I have learnt two
since I have been sitting here."
"Have you?" said he; "which are they?"
"One of them is the one you showed me this morning, Sir."
"And what is your mind now about the question I asked you this
morning?"
Ellen cast down her eyes from his inquiring glance, and
answered, in a low tone, "Just what it was then, Sir.
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