"I used to lie and watch that crack in the door, at the foot of my bed," said Ellen, "and I got so tired of it I hated to see it; but when I opened my eyes I couldn't help looking at it, and watching all the little ins and outs in the crack, till I was as sick of it as could be; and that button too, that fastens the door, and the little round mark the button has made, and thinking how far the button went round. And then, if I looked towards the windows, I would go right to counting the panes, first up and down, and then across — and I didn't want to count them, but I couldn't help it; and watching to see through which pane the sky looked brightest. Oh! I got so sick of it all! There was only the fire that I didn't get tired of looking at; I always liked to lie and look at that, except when it hurt my eyes. And oh! how I wanted to see you, Miss Alice! You can't think how sad I felt that you didn't come to see me. I couldn't think what could be the matter." "I should have been with you, dear, and not have left you, if I had not been tied at home myself." "So I thought, and that made it seem so very strange. But oh! don't you think," said Ellen, her face suddenly brightening — "don't you think Mr. Van Brunt came up to see me last night? Wasn't it good of him? He even sat down and read to me — only think of that! And isn't he kind? — he asked if I would like a rocking-chair, and of course I said yes, for these other chairs are dreadful — they break my back; and there wasn't such a thing as a rocking-chair in Aunt Fortune's house — she hates 'em, she says; and this morning, the first thing I knew, in walked Mr. Van Brunt with this nice rocking-chair. Just get up and see how nice it is; — you see the back is cushioned, and the elbows, as well as the seat; it's queer-looking, ain't it? but it's very comfortable. Wasn't it good of him?" "It was very kind, I think. But do you know, Ellen, I am going to have a quarrel with you?" "What about?" said Ellen. "I don't believe it's anything very bad, for you look pretty good-humoured, considering." "Nothing _very_ bad," said Alice, "but still enough to quarrel about. You have twice said '_ain't_ ' since I have been here." "Oh," said Ellen, laughing, "is that all?" "Yes," said Alice, "and my English ears don't like it at all."