As she said this, she caught up Ellen in her arms as if she had been a baby, and carried her back to the bed, where she laid her with two or three little shakes, and then proceeded to spread up the clothes and tuck her in all round. She then ran for the gruel. Ellen was in great question whether to give way to tears or vexation; but with some difficulty determined upon vexation as the best plan. Nancy prepared the gruel to her liking, and brought it to the bedside; but to get it swallowed was another matter. Nancy was resolved Ellen should take it. Ellen had less strength, but quite as much obstinacy as her enemy, and she was equally resolved not to drink a drop. Between laughing on Nancy's part, and very serious anger on Ellen's, a struggle ensued. Nancy tried to force it down, but Ellen's shut teeth were as firm as a vice, and the end was that two-thirds were bestowed on the sheet. Ellen burst into tears. Nancy laughed. "Well, I _do_ think," said she, "you are one of the hardest customers ever I came across. I shouldn't want to have the managing of you when you get a little bigger. Oh, the way Miss Fortune will look, when she comes in here will be a caution! Oh, what fun!" Nancy shouted and clapped her hands. "Come, stop crying!" said she; "what a baby you are! what are you crying for? come, stop! — I'll make you laugh if you don't." Two or three little applications of Nancy's fingers made her words good, but laughing was mixed with crying, and Ellen writhed in hysterics. Just then came a little knock at the door. Ellen did not hear it, but it quieted Nancy. She stood still a moment; and then, as the knock was repeated, she called out boldly, "Come in!" Ellen raised her head "to see who there might be;" and great was the surprise of both, and the joy of one, as the tall form and broad shoulders of Mr. Van Brunt presented themselves. "Oh, Mr. Van Brunt," sobbed Ellen, "I am so glad to see you! won't you please send Nancy away?" "What are you doing here?" said the astonished Dutchman. "Look and see, Mr. Van Brunt," said Nancy with a smile of mischief's own curling; "you won't be long finding out, I guess." "Take yourself off, and don't let me hear of your being caught here again." "I'll go when I'm ready, thank you," said Nancy; "and as to the rest, I haven't been caught the first time, yet; I don't know what you mean." She sprang as she finished her sentence, for Mr. Van Brunt made a sudden movement to catch her then and there. He was foiled; and then began a running chase round the room, in the course of which Nancy dodged, pushed, and sprang, with the power of squeezing by impassables, and overleaping impossibilities, that, to say the least of it, was remarkable. The room was too small for her, and she was caught at last. "I vow!" said Mr. Van Brunt as he pinioned her hands, "I should like to see you play blind man's buff for once, if I warn't the blind man." "How'd you see me if you was?" said Nancy, scornfully.