"When may I go?"
"As soon as you like."
"Oh, thank you, Ma’am. To which school shall I go, Aunt
Fortune?"
"To whichever you like."
"But I don't know anything about them," said Ellen — "how can
I tell which is best?"
Miss Fortune was silent.
"What schools are there near here?" said Ellen.
"There's Captain Conklin's down at the Cross, and Miss
Emerson's at Thirlwall."
Ellen hesitated. The name was against her, but nevertheless
she concluded on the whole that the lady's school would be the
pleasantest.
"Is Miss Emerson any relation of yours?" she asked.
"No."
"I think I should like to go to her school the best. I will go
there if you let me — may I?"
"Yes."
"And I will begin next Monday — may I?"
"Yes."
Ellen wished exceedingly that her aunt would speak in some
other tone of voice; it was a continual damper to her rising
hopes.
"I'll get my books ready," said she — "and look 'em over a
little, too, I guess. But what will be the best way for me to
go, Aunt Fortune?"
"I don't know."
"I couldn't walk so far, could I?"
"You know best."
"I couldn't, I am sure," said Ellen. "It's four miles to
Thirlwall, Mr. Van Brunt said; and that would be too much for
me to walk twice a day; and I should be afraid besides."
A dead silence.
"But Aunt Fortune, do please tell me what I am to do. How can
I know unless you tell me? What way is there that I can go to
school?"
"It is unfortunate that I don't keep a carriage," said Miss
Fortune — "but Mr.
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