Ellen brought them all out, and displayed their beauties. In the course of going over the writing-desk, she came to the secret drawer, and a little money in it. "Oh, that puts me in mind!" she said. "Miss Alice, this money is to be spent for some poor child; — now, I've been thinking Nancy has behaved so to me, I should like to give her something, to show her that I don't feel unkindly about it — what do you think will be a good thing?" "I don't know, Ellen — I'll take the matter into consideration." "Do you think a Bible would do?" "Perhaps that would do as well as anything; — I'll think about it." "I should like to do it, very much," said Ellen, "for she has vexed me wonderfully." "Well, Ellen, would you like to hear my other pieces of news? or have you no curiosity?" "Oh, yes, indeed," said Ellen; "I had forgotten it entirely; what is it, Miss Alice?" "You know, I told you one concerns only myself, but it is great news to me. I learnt this morning that my brother will come to spend the holidays with me. It is many months since I have seen him." "Does he live far away?" said Ellen. "Yes — he has gone far away to pursue his studies, and cannot come home often. The other piece of news is, that I intend, if you have no objection, to ask Miss Fortune's leave to have you spend the holidays with me too." "Oh, delightful!" said Ellen, starting up, and clapping her hands, and then throwing them round her adopted sister's neck; — "dear Alice, how good you are!" "Then I suppose I may reckon upon your consent," said Alice — "and I'll speak to Miss Fortune, without delay." "Oh, thank you, dear Miss Alice; — how glad I am! I shall be happy all the time from now till then thinking of it. You aren't going?" "I must." "Ah, don't go yet! Sit down again; you know you're my sister — don't you want to read Mamma's letter?" "If you please, Ellen — I should like it very much." She sat down, and Ellen gave her the letter, and stood by while she read it, watching her with glistening eyes; and though, as she saw Alice's fill, her own overflowed again, she hung over her still to the last; going over every line this time with a new pleasure: — "New York, Saturday, Nov. 22, 18 — . "MY DEAR ELLEN, — "I meant to have written to you before, but have been scarcely able to do so. I did make one or two efforts which came to nothing; I was obliged to give it up before finishing anything that could be called a letter. To- day I feel much stronger than I have at any time since your departure.