She asked
permission to go alone.
"Do you want to go because you think you must, or for
pleasure?" said Mrs. Lindsay.
"For pleasure," said Ellen's tongue and her opening eyes at
the same time.
"You may go."
With eager delight Ellen got ready, and was hastening along
the hall to the door, when she met Mr. Lindsay.
"Where are you going?"
"To church, Sir."
"Alone! what do you want to go for! No, no, I shan't let you.
Come in here — I want you with me; you have been once to-day
already, haven't you? You do not want to go again?"
"I do indeed, Sir, very much," said Ellen, as she reluctantly
followed him into the library, "if you have no objection. You
know I have not seen Edinburgh yet."
"Edinburgh! that's true, so you haven't," said he, looking at
her discomfited face. "Well, go, if you want to go so much."
Ellen got as far as the hall door, no further; she rushed back
to the library.
"I did not say right when I said that," she burst forth; "that
was not the reason I wanted to go. I will stay, if you wish
me, Sir."
"I don't wish it," said, he in surprise; "I don't know what
you mean; I am willing you should go, if you like it. Away
with you! it is time."
Once more Ellen set out, but this time with a heart full —
much too full to think of anything she saw by the way. It was
with a singular feeling of pleasure that she entered the
church alone.
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