"And Mr. Humphreys," said Mrs. Chauncey.
"There is no society about him," said Miss Sophia; "he don't
say two dozen words a day."
"But she is not with them," said Mrs. Gillespie.
"She is with them a great deal, aunt Matilda," said Ellen
Chauncey, "and they teach her everything, and she does learn!
She must be very clever; don't you think she is, Mamma? Mamma,
she beats me entirely in speaking French, and she knows all
about English history; and arithmetic! — and did you ever hear
her sing, Mamma?"
"I do not believe she beats you, as you call it, in generous
estimation of others," said Mrs. Chauncey, smiling, and
bending forward to kiss her daughter; "but what is the reason
Ellen is so much better read in history than you?"
"I don't know, Mamma, unless — I wish I wasn't so fond of
reading stories."
"Ellen Montgomery is just as fond of them, I'll warrant," said
Miss Sophia.
"Yes — oh, I know she is fond of them; but then Alice and Mr.
John don't let her read them, except now and then one."
"I fancy she does it, though, when their backs are turned,"
said Mrs. Gillespie.
"She! oh, aunt Matilda! she wouldn't do the least thing they
don't like for the whole world. I know she never reads a story
when she is here, unless it is my Sunday books, without asking
Alice first."
"She is a most extraordinary child!" said Mrs. Gillespie.
Pages:
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703