"
Ellen was strongly tempted to reply, but kept her lips shut.
"I'll tell you what," said Miss Fortune — "if you want me to
believe that all this talk means something, I'll tell you what
you shall do — you shall just tell Mr. Van Brunt to-morrow
about it all, and how ugly you have been these two days, and
let him know you were wrong and I was right. I believe he
thinks you cannot do anything wrong, and I should like him to
know it for once."
Ellen struggled hard with herself before she could speak; Miss
Fortune's lips began to wear a scornful smile.
"I'll tell him!" said Ellen, at length; "I'll tell him I was
wrong, if you wish me to."
"I _do_ wish it. I like people's eyes to be opened. It'll do him
good, I guess, and you too. Now, have you anything more to
say?"
Ellen hesitated; — the colour came and went; she knew it
wasn't a good time, but how could she wait?
"Aunt Fortune," she said, "you know I told you I behaved very
ill about that letter — won't you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? yes, child; I don't care anything about it."
"Then you will be so good as to let me have my letter again?"
said Ellen, timidly.
"Oh, I can't be bothered to look for it now; I'll see about it
some other time; take your candle and go to bed now, if you've
nothing more to say."
Ellen took her candle and went. Some tears were wrung from her
by hurt feeling and disappointment; but she had the smile of
conscience, and, as she believed, of Him whose witness
conscience is.
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