"How do you do?" said he, kindly.
"I'm a great deal better," said Ellen. "Sit down, won't you,
Mr. Van Brunt? I want to see you a little."
Horses wouldn't have drawn him away after that. He sat down.
"Ain't you going to be up again some of these days?" said he.
"Oh yes, I hope so," said Ellen, sighing; "I am very tired of
lying here."
He looked round the room; got up and mended the fire, then
came and sat down again.
"I was up yesterday for a minute," said Ellen; "but the chair
tired me so, I was glad to get back to bed again."
It was no wonder; harder and straighter-backed chairs never
were invented. Probably Mr. Van Brunt thought so.
"Wouldn't you like to have a rocking cheer?" said he,
suddenly, as if a bright thought had struck him.
"Oh yes, how much I should!" said Ellen, with another long-
drawn breath; "but there isn't such a thing in the house, that
ever I saw."
"Ay, but there is in other houses, though," said Mr. Van
Brunt, with as near an approach to a smile as his lips
commonly made; "we'll see!"
Ellen smiled more broadly. "But don't you give yourself any
trouble for me," said she.
"Trouble, indeed!" said Mr. Van Brunt; "I don't know anything
about that. How came that wicked thing up here to plague you?"
"She said Aunt Fortune left her to take care of me."
"That's one of her lies. Your aunt's gone out, I know; but
she's a trifle wiser than to do such a thing as that.
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