"
Ellen's face was not to be withstood. The old gentleman took
the bill from her hand.
"I will never think anything of you," said he, "but what is
the very tip-top of honourable propriety. But you make _me_
ashamed now — what am I going to do with this? here have you
come and made me a present, and I feel very awkward indeed."
"I don't care what you do with it, Sir," said Ellen, laughing,
though in imminent danger of bursting into tears! — "I am very
glad it is out of _my_ hands."
"But you needn't think I am going to let you off so," said he
— "you must give me half a dozen kisses at least, to prove
that you have forgiven me for making so great a blunder."
"Half a dozen is too many at once," said Ellen, gaily; —
"three now, and three to-night."
So she gave the old gentleman three kisses, but he caught her
in his arms and gave her a dozen at least; after which he
found out that the waiter was holding a cup of coffee at his
elbow, and Ellen went back to her place with a very good
appetite for her breakfast.
After breakfast the needlecases were delivered. Both gave the
most entire satisfaction. Mrs. Chauncey assured her daughter
that she would quite as lief have a yellow as a red rose on
the cover, and that she liked the inscription extremely; which
the little girl acknowledged to have been a joint device of
her own and Ellen's. Ellen's bag gave great delight, and was
paraded all over the house.
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