It
was done, and she carried it out to the kitchen herself.
The poor man's thanks were very warm; but that was not what
Ellen wanted. She could not rest till she had got another word
from her brother. He was busy; she dared not speak to him; she
sat fidgeting and uneasy in the corner of the sofa till it was
time to get ready for riding. She had plenty of time to make
up her mind about the right and the wrong of her own conduct.
During the ride he was just as usual, and she began to think
he did not mean to say anything more on the matter. Pleasant
talk and pleasant exercise had almost driven it out of her
head, when as they were walking their horses over a level
place, he suddenly began —
"By-the-bye, you are too busy, Ellie," said he. "Which of your
studies shall we cut off?"
"_Please_, Mr. John," said Ellen, blushing, "don't say anything
about that! I was not studying at all — I was just amusing
myself with a book — I was only selfish and lazy."
"_Only_ — I would rather you were too busy, Ellie."
Ellen's eyes filled.
"I was wrong," she said — "I knew it at the time — at least,
as soon as you spoke I knew it; and a little before; — I was
very wrong!"
And his keen eye saw that the confession was not out of
compliment to him merely; it came from the heart.
"You are right now," he said, smiling. "But how are your
reins?"
Ellen's heart was at rest again.
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