Cannot you ask your aunt for it?"
"I don't like to."
"Take care, Ellen; there is some pride there yet."
"Well, I will try," said Ellen. "but sometimes, I know, she
would not give it to me if I were to ask her. But I'll try, if
I can."
"Well, now to change the subject — at what o'clock did you
dine to-day?"
"I don't know, Ma’am — at the same time we always do, I
believe."
"And that is twelve o'clock, isn't it?"
"Yes, Ma’am; but I was so full of coming here and other
things? that I couldn't eat."
"Then I suppose you would have no objection to an early tea?"
"No, Ma’am — whenever you please," said Ellen? laughing.
"I shall please it pretty soon. I have had no dinner at all
to-day, Ellen; I have been out and about all the morning, and
had just taken a little nap when you came in. Come this way,
and let me show you some of my house-keeping."
She led the way across the hall to the room on the opposite
side; a large, well-appointed, and spotlessly neat kitchen.
Ellen could not help exclaiming at its pleasantness.
"Why, yes — I think it is. I have been in many a parlour that
I do not like as well. Beyond this is a lower kitchen, where
Margery does all her rough work; nothing comes up the steps
that lead from that to this but the very nicest and daintiest
of kitchen matters. Margery, is my father gone to Thirlwall?"
"No, Miss Alice — he's at Carra-carra — Thomas heard him say
he wouldn't be back early.
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