"
"Very well!" said Mr. Lindsay. "But understand, Ellen, however
you may have taken it up — this habit — you will lay it down
for the future. Let us hear no more of brothers and sisters. I
cannot, as your Grandmother says, fraternize with all the
world, especially with unknown relations."
"I am very glad you have made that regulation," said Mrs.
Lindsay.
"I cannot conceive how Ellen has got such a way of it," said
Lady Keith.
"It is very natural," said Ellen, with some huskiness of
voice, "that I should say so, because I feel so."
"You do not mean to say," said Mr. Lindsay, "that this Mr. and
Miss Somebody — these people — I don't know their names —"
"There is only one now, Sir."
"This person you call your brother — do you mean to say you
have the same regard for him as if he had been born so?"
"No," said Ellen, with cheek and eye suddenly firing, "but a
thousand times more!"
She was exceedingly sorry the next minute after she had said
this, for she knew it had given both pain and displeasure in a
great degree. No answer was made. Ellen dared not look at
anybody, and needed not; she wished the silence might be
broken; but nothing was heard except a low "whew!" from Mr.
Lindsay, till he rose up and left the room. Ellen was sure he
was very much displeased. Even the ladies were too much
offended to speak on the subject; and she was merely bade to
go to her room.
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