But,
Ellen, my dear, I cannot help you in French, for I do not know
it myself. What will you do about that?"
"I don't know, Ma’am; I am sorry."
"So am I, for your sake. I can help you in Latin, if that
would be any comfort to you."
"It wouldn't be much comfort to me," said Ellen, laughing;
"Mamma wanted me to learn Latin, but I wanted to learn French
a great deal more; I don't care about Latin except to please
her."
"Permit me to ask if you know English?"
"Oh, yes, Ma’am, I hope so; I knew that a great while ago."
"Did you? I am very happy to make your acquaintance then; for
the number of young ladies who do know English is, in my
opinion, remarkably small. Are you sure of the fact, Ellen?"
"Why, yes, Miss Alice."
"Will you undertake to write me a note of two pages that shall
not have one fault of grammar, nor one word spelt wrong, nor
anything in it that is not good English? You may take for a
subject the history of this afternoon."
"Yes, Ma’am, if you wish it. I hope I can write a note that
long without making mistakes."
Alice smiled.
"I will not stop to inquire," she said, "whether _that long_ is
Latin or French; but Ellen, my dear, it is not English."
Ellen blushed a little, though she laughed too.
"I believe I have got into the way of saying that by hearing
Aunt Fortune and Mr. Van Brunt say it; I don't think I ever
did before I came here.
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