There was a long silence, during which Ellen saw nothing in
earth, air, or sky, and knew no longer whether she was passing
through woodland or meadow. To frame words into another
sentence was past her power. They came in sight of the barn at
length. She would not have much more time.
"Will it be soon, Mr. Van Brunt?"
"Why pretty soon — as soon as next week, I guess; so I thought
it was time you ought to be told. Do you know to who?"
"I don't _know_," said Ellen, in a low voice; — "I couldn't help
guessing."
"I reckon you've guessed about right," said he, without
looking at her.
There was another silence, during which it seemed to Ellen
that her thoughts were tumbling head over heels, they were in
such confusion.
"The short and the long of it is," said Mr. Van Brunt, as they
rounded the corner of the barn — "we have made up our minds to
draw in the same yoke; and we're both on us pretty go-ahead
folks, so I guess we'll contrive to pull the cart along. I had
just as lief tell you, Ellen, that all this was as good as
settled a long spell back — afore ever you came to Thirlwall;
but I was never a-going to leave my old mother without a home,
so I stuck to her, and would, to the end of time, if I had
never been married. But now she is gone, and there is nothing
to keep me to the old place any longer. So now you know the
hull on it, and I wanted you should.
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