"
Mr. Van Brunt stood gravely waiting.
Ellen raised her eyes, which were full, to his face. "Mr. Van
Brunt," she said, "Aunt Fortune wants me to tell you what I
told her last night — that I knew I behaved as I ought not to
her yesterday, and the day before, and other times."
"And what made you do that?" said Mr. Van Brunt.
"Tell him," said Miss Fortune, colouring, "that you were in
the wrong, and I was in the right — then he'll believe it, I
suppose."
"I was wrong," said Ellen.
"And I was right," said Miss Fortune.
Ellen was silent. Mr. Van Brunt looked from one to the other.
"Speak," said Miss Fortune; "tell him the whole, if you mean
what you say."
"I can't," said Ellen.
"Why, you said you were wrong," said Miss Fortune; "that's
only half of the business; if you were wrong, I was right; why
don't you say so, and not make such a shilly-shally piece of
work of it?"
"I said I was wrong," said Ellen — "and so I was; but I never
said you were right, Aunt Fortune, and I don't think so."
These words, though moderately spoken, were enough to put Miss
Fortune in a rage.
"What did I do that was wrong?" she said; "come, I should like
to know. What was it, Ellen? Out with it; say everything you
can think of; stop and hear it, Mr. Van Brunt; come, Ellen:
let's hear the whole!"
"Thank you, Ma’am, I've heerd quite enough," said that
gentleman, as he went out and closed the door.
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