I have had that cat five years, and when he
was first given me, by my brother Jack, who was younger then
than he is now, and had been reading Captain Parry's _Voyages_,
gave him that name, and would have him called so. Oh, Jack!"
said Alice, half laughing and half crying.
Ellen wondered why. But she went to wash her hands, and when
her face was again turned to Ellen, it was unruffled as ever.
"Margery, my cakes are ready," said she, "and Ellen and I are
ready too."
"Very well, Miss Alice — the kettle is just going to boil; you
shall have tea in a trice. I'll do some eggs for you."
"Something — anything," said Alice; "I feel one cannot live
without eating. Come, Ellen, you and I will go and set the
tea-table."
Ellen was very happy arranging the cups and saucers and other
things that Alice handed her from the cupboard; and when, a
few minutes after, the tea and the cakes came in, and she and
Alice were cozily seated at supper, poor Ellen hardly knew
herself, in such a pleasant state of things.
CHAPTER XVII.
Difficulty of doing right.
"Ellen dear," said Alice as she poured out Ellen's second cup
of tea, "have we run through the list of your troubles?"
"Oh, no, Miss Alice, indeed we haven't; but we have got
through the worst."
"Is the next one so bad it would spoil our supper?"
"No," said Ellen, "it couldn't do that, but it's bad enough,
though; it's about my not going to school.
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