All
these are mine. Now, my dear, it is time to introduce you to
my most excellent of easy-chairs — the best things in the
room, aren't they? Put yourself in that; now do you feel at
home?"
"Very much indeed, Ma’am," said Ellen, laughing, as Alice
placed her in the deep easy-chair.
There were two things in the room that Alice had not
mentioned; and while she mended the fire, Ellen looked at
them. One was the portrait of a gentleman, grave and good-
looking; this had very little of her attention. The other was
the counter-portrait of a lady; a fine, dignified countenance
that had a charm for Ellen. It hung over the fireplace in an
excellent light; and the mild eye, and somewhat of a peculiar
expression about the mouth, bore such likeness to Alice,
though older, that Ellen had no doubt whose it was.
Alice presently drew a chair close to Ellen's side, and kissed
her.
"I trust, my child," she said, "that you feel better to-day
than you did yesterday?"
"Oh, I do, Ma’am — a great deal better," Ellen answered.
"Then I hope the reason is that you have returned to your
duty, and are resolved not to be a Christian by-and-by, but to
lead a Christian's life now?"
"I have resolved so, Ma’am — I did resolve so last night and
this morning; but yet I have been doing nothing but wrong all
to-day."
Alice was silent. Ellen's lips quivered for a moment, and then
she went on —
"Oh, Ma’am, how I have wanted to see you to-day to tell me
what I _should_ do! I resolved and resolved this morning; and
then, as soon as I got down-stairs, I began to have bad
feelings towards Aunt Fortune, and I have been full of bad
feelings all day; and I couldn't help it.
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