Van Brunt with this nice rocking-chair. Just get
up and see how nice it is; — you see the back is cushioned,
and the elbows, as well as the seat; it's queer-looking, ain't
it? but it's very comfortable. Wasn't it good of him?"
"It was very kind, I think. But do you know, Ellen, I am going
to have a quarrel with you?"
"What about?" said Ellen. "I don't believe it's anything very
bad, for you look pretty good-humoured, considering."
"Nothing _very_ bad," said Alice, "but still enough to quarrel
about. You have twice said '_ain't_ ' since I have been here."
"Oh," said Ellen, laughing, "is that all?"
"Yes," said Alice, "and my English ears don't like it at all."
"Then they shan't hear it," said Ellen, kissing her. "I don't
know what makes me say it — I never used to. But I've got more
to tell you — I've had more visitors. Who do you think came to
see me? — you'd never guess — Nancy Vawse! Mr. Van Brunt came
in the very nick of time, when I was almost worried to death
with her. Only think of _her_ coming up here — unknown to every
body! And she stayed an age, and how she _did_ go on! She
cracked nuts on the hearth; — she got every stitch of my
clothes out of my trunk, and scattered them over the floor; —
she tried to make me drink gruel, till, between us we spilled
a great parcel on the bed; — and she had begun to tickle me
when Mr. Van Brunt came.
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