"
"Well," said Ellen, "I wished very much — I was going to ask —
if you would have any objection to let me read one of your
sermons."
"None in the world, Ellie," said he, smiling; "but they have
never been written yet."
"Not written!"
"No — there is all I had to guide me yesterday."
"A half-sheet of paper! — and only written on one side! Oh, I
can make nothing of this. What is _this?_ Hebrew?"
"Short-hand."
"And is that all? I cannot understand it," said Ellen, sighing
as she gave back the paper.
"What if you were to go with me next time? They want to see
you very much at Ventnor."
"So do I want to see them," said Ellen, "very much indeed."
"Mrs. Marshman sent a most earnest request by me that you
would come to her the next time I go to Randolph."
Ellen gave the matter a very serious consideration — if one
might judge by her face.
"What do you say to it?"
"I should like to go, very much," said Ellen, slowly — "but —"
"But you do not think it would be pleasant?"
"No, no," said Ellen, laughing, "I don't mean that; but I
think I would rather not."
"Why?"
"Oh — I have some reasons."
"You must give me _very_ good ones, or I think I shall overrule
your decision, Ellie."
"I have very good ones; plenty of them; only —"
A glance, somewhat comical in its keenness, overturned Ellen's
hesitation.
"I have, indeed," said she, laughing; "only I did not want to
tell you.
Pages:
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791