"Ellen, dear," said Alice, at length, "we are both motherless, for the present, at least — both of us almost alone: I think God has brought us together to be a comfort to each other. We will be sisters while He permits us to be so. Don't call me Miss Alice any more. You shall be my little sister, and I will be your elder sister, and my home shall be your home as well." Ellen's arms were drawn very close round her companion at this, but she said nothing, and her face was laid in Alice's bosom. There was another very long pause. Then Alice spoke in a livelier tone. "Come, Ellen! look up! you and I have forgotten ourselves; it isn't good for sick people to get down in the dumps. Look up, and let me see these pale cheeks. Don't you want something to eat?" "I don't know," said Ellen, faintly. "What would you say to a cup of chicken-broth?" "Oh, I should like it very much!" said Ellen, with new energy. "Margery made me some particularly nice, as she always does; and I took it into my head a little might not come amiss to you; so I resolved to stand the chance of Sharp's jolting it all over me, and I rode down with a little pail of it on my arm. Let me rake open these coals, and you shall have some directly." "And did you come without being spattered?" said Ellen. "Not a drop. Is this what you use to warm things in? Never mind, it has had gruel in it; I'll set the tin pail on the fire; it won't hurt it." "I am so much obliged to you," said Ellen, "for do you know I have got quite tired of gruel, and panada I can't bear." "Then I am very glad I brought it." While it was warming, Alice washed Ellen's gruel cup and spoon; and presently she had the satisfaction of seeing Ellen eating the broth with that keen enjoyment none know but those that have been sick and are getting well. She smiled to see her gaining strength almost in the very act of swallowing. "Ellen," said she, presently, "I have been considering your dressing-table. It looks rather doleful. I'll make you a present of some dimity, and when you come to see me you shall make a cover for it, that will reach down to the floor and hide those long legs." "That wouldn't do at all," said Ellen; "Aunt Fortune would go off into all sorts of fits." "What about?" "Why, the washing, Miss Alice — to have such a great thing to wash every now and then. You can't think what a fuss she makes if I have more than just so many white clothes in the wash every week." "That's too bad," said Alice. "Suppose you bring it up to me — it wouldn't be often — and I'll have it washed for you — if you care enough about it to take the trouble." "Oh, indeed I do!" said Ellen: "I should like it very much, and I'll get Mr. Van Brunt to — no, I can't, Aunt Fortune won't let me; I was going to say, I would get him to saw off the legs and make it lower for me, and then my dressing-box would stand so nicely on the top. Maybe I can yet. Oh, I never showed you my boxes and things."