"
"It will not do to say that we cannot help what is wrong,
Ellen. What is the reason that you have bad feelings towards
your aunt?"
"She don't like me, Ma’am."
"But how happens that, Ellen? I am afraid you don't like her."
"No, Ma’am, I don't to be sure; how can I?"
"Why cannot you, Ellen?"
"Oh, I can't, Ma’am! I wish I could. But, oh! Ma’am, I should
have liked her — I might have liked her, if she had been kind,
but she never has. Even that first night I came she never
kissed me nor said she was glad to see me."
"That was failing in kindness, certainly, but is she unkind to
you, Ellen?"
"Oh, yes, Ma’am, indeed she is. She talks to me, and talks to
me, in a way that almost drives me out of my wits; and to-day
she even struck me! She has no right to do it," said Ellen,
firing with passion; "she has no _right_ to! and she has no
right to talk as she does about Mamma. She did it to-day, and
she has done it before. I can't bear it! and I can't bear _her!_
I can't _bear_ her!"
"Hush, hush," said Alice, drawing the excited child to her
arms, for Ellen had risen from her seat — "you must not talk
so, Ellen; you are not feeling right now."
"No, Ma’am, I am not," said Ellen, coldly and sadly. She sat a
moment, and then turning to her companion, put both arms round
her neck, and hid her face on her shoulder again; and, without
raising it, she gave her the history of the morning.
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