Violent tears
burst forth as soon as she reached her own room — tears at
first of anger and mortification only; but conscience
presently began to whisper, "You are wrong! you are wrong!" —
and tears of sorrow mingled with the others.
"Oh!" said Ellen, "why couldn't I keep still? — when I had
resolved so this morning — why couldn't I be quiet? — But she
ought not to have provoked me so dreadfully — I couldn't help
it." "You are wrong," said conscience again, and her tears
flowed faster. And then came back her morning trouble — the
duty and the difficulty of forgiving. Forgive her aunt
Fortune! — with her whole heart in a passion of displeasure
against her. Alas! Ellen began to feel and acknowledge that
indeed all was wrong. But what to do? There was just one
comfort, the visit to Miss Humphreys in the afternoon. "She
will tell me," thought Ellen; "she will help me. But in the
mean while?"
Ellen had not much time to think; her aunt called her down and
set her to work. She was very busy till dinner-time, and very
unhappy; but twenty times in the course of the morning did
Ellen pause for a moment, and covering her face with her hands
pray that a heart to forgive might be given her.
As soon as possible after dinner, she made her escape to her
room that she might prepare for her walk. Conscience was not
quite easy that she was going without the knowledge of her
aunt.
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