Alice presently drew a chair close to Ellen's side, and kissed her. "I trust, my child," she said, "that you feel better to-day than you did yesterday?" "Oh, I do, Ma’am — a great deal better," Ellen answered. "Then I hope the reason is that you have returned to your duty, and are resolved not to be a Christian by-and-by, but to lead a Christian's life now?" "I have resolved so, Ma’am — I did resolve so last night and this morning; but yet I have been doing nothing but wrong all to-day." Alice was silent. Ellen's lips quivered for a moment, and then she went on — "Oh, Ma’am, how I have wanted to see you to-day to tell me what I _should_ do! I resolved and resolved this morning; and then, as soon as I got down-stairs, I began to have bad feelings towards Aunt Fortune, and I have been full of bad feelings all day; and I couldn't help it." "It will not do to say that we cannot help what is wrong, Ellen. What is the reason that you have bad feelings towards your aunt?" "She don't like me, Ma’am." "But how happens that, Ellen? I am afraid you don't like her." "No, Ma’am, I don't to be sure; how can I?" "Why cannot you, Ellen?" "Oh, I can't, Ma’am! I wish I could. But, oh! Ma’am, I should have liked her — I might have liked her, if she had been kind, but she never has. Even that first night I came she never kissed me nor said she was glad to see me." "That was failing in kindness, certainly, but is she unkind to you, Ellen?" "Oh, yes, Ma’am, indeed she is. She talks to me, and talks to me, in a way that almost drives me out of my wits; and to-day she even struck me! She has no right to do it," said Ellen, firing with passion; "she has no _right_ to! and she has no right to talk as she does about Mamma. She did it to-day, and she has done it before. I can't bear it! and I can't bear _her!_ I can't _bear_ her!" "Hush, hush," said Alice, drawing the excited child to her arms, for Ellen had risen from her seat — "you must not talk so, Ellen; you are not feeling right now." "No, Ma’am, I am not," said Ellen, coldly and sadly. She sat a moment, and then turning to her companion, put both arms round her neck, and hid her face on her shoulder again; and, without raising it, she gave her the history of the morning. "What has brought about this dreadful state of things?" said Alice, after a few minutes. "Whose fault is it, Ellen?" "I think it is Aunt Fortune's fault," said Ellen, raising her head; "I don't think it is mine. If she had behaved well to me, I should have behaved well to her. I meant to, I am sure." "Do you mean to say you do not think you have been in fault at all in the matter?"