Mr. Van Brunt at length, having finished his meal, without saying a syllable, arose, and was about to go forth, when Miss Fortune stopped him. "Wait a minute, Mr. Van Brunt," she said; "Ellen has something to say to you. Go ahead, Ellen." Ellen _felt_ rather than saw the smile with which these words were spoken. She crimsoned and hesitated. "Ellen and I had some trouble yesterday," said Miss Fortune; "and she wants to tell you about it." Mr. Van Brunt stood gravely waiting. Ellen raised her eyes, which were full, to his face. "Mr. Van Brunt," she said, "Aunt Fortune wants me to tell you what I told her last night — that I knew I behaved as I ought not to her yesterday, and the day before, and other times." "And what made you do that?" said Mr. Van Brunt. "Tell him," said Miss Fortune, colouring, "that you were in the wrong, and I was in the right — then he'll believe it, I suppose." "I was wrong," said Ellen. "And I was right," said Miss Fortune. Ellen was silent. Mr. Van Brunt looked from one to the other. "Speak," said Miss Fortune; "tell him the whole, if you mean what you say." "I can't," said Ellen. "Why, you said you were wrong," said Miss Fortune; "that's only half of the business; if you were wrong, I was right; why don't you say so, and not make such a shilly-shally piece of work of it?" "I said I was wrong," said Ellen — "and so I was; but I never said you were right, Aunt Fortune, and I don't think so." These words, though moderately spoken, were enough to put Miss Fortune in a rage. "What did I do that was wrong?" she said; "come, I should like to know. What was it, Ellen? Out with it; say everything you can think of; stop and hear it, Mr. Van Brunt; come, Ellen: let's hear the whole!" "Thank you, Ma’am, I've heerd quite enough," said that gentleman, as he went out and closed the door. "And I have said too much," said Ellen. "Pray forgive me, Aunt Fortune. I shouldn't have said that if you hadn't pressed me so; I forgot myself a moment. I am sorry I said that." "Forgot yourself!" said Miss Fortune; "I wish you'd forget yourself out of my house. Please to forget the place where I am for to-day, anyhow; I've got enough of you for one while. You had better go to Miss Alice and get a new lesson, and tell her you are coming on finely." Gladly would Ellen, indeed, have gone to Miss Alice, but as the next day was Sunday, she thought it best to wait. She went sorrowfully to her own room. "Why couldn't I be quiet?" said Ellen. "If I had only held my tongue that unfortunate minute! what possessed me to say that?" Strong passion — strong pride — both long unbroken; and Ellen had yet to learn that many a prayer and many a tear, much watchfulness, much help from on high, must be hers before she could be thoroughly dispossessed of these evil spirits. But she knew her sickness; she had applied to the Physician; — she was in a fair way to be well.