The kitchen was now one buzz of talk and good-humour; Ellen stood half-smiling to herself to see the universal smile, when Nancy twitched her. "Here's more coming — Cilly Dennison, I guess — no, it's too tall; _who_ is it?" But Ellen flung open the door with a half-uttered scream, and threw herself into the arms of Alice, and then led her in; her face full of such extreme joy, that it was perhaps one reason why her aunt's wore a very doubtful air as she came forward. That could not stand, however, against the graceful politeness and pleasantness of Alice's greeting. Miss Fortune's brow smoothed, her voice cleared, she told Miss Humphreys she was very welcome — and she meant it. Clinging close to her friend as she went from one to another, Ellen was delighted to see that everyone echoed the welcome. Every face brightened at meeting hers, every eye softened, and Jenny Hitchcock even threw her arms round Alice and kissed her. Ellen left now the window to Nancy, and stood fast by her adopted sister, with a face of satisfaction it was pleasant to see, watching her very lips as they moved. Soon the door opened again, and various voices hailed the new-comer as "Jane," "Jany," and "Jane Huff." She was a decidedly plain- looking country girl; but when she came near, Ellen saw a sober, sensible face, and a look of thorough good-nature, which immediately ranked her next to Jenny Hitchcock in her fancy. Mr. Bill Huff followed, a sturdy young man; quite as plain, and hardly so sensible-looking; he was still more shining with good-nature. He made no pretensions to the elegance of Mr. Juniper Hitchcock; but, before the evening was over, Ellen had a vastly greater respect for him. Last, not least, came the Dennisons; it took Ellen some time to make up her mind about them. Miss Cilly, or Cecilia, was certainly very elegant indeed. Her hair was in the extremest state of nicety, with a little round curl plastered in front of each ear; how she coaxed them to stay there, Ellen could not conceive. She wore a real watch — there was no doubt of that — and there was even a ring on one of her fingers, with two or three blue or red stones in it. Her dress was smart, and so was her figure, and her face was pretty; and Ellen overheard one of the Lawsons whisper to Jenny Hitchcock that "there wasn't a greater lady in the land than Cilly Dennison." Her brother was very different; tall and athletic, and rather handsome, _he_ made no pretensions to be a gentleman. He valued his fine farming and fine cattle a great deal higher than Juniper Hitchcock's gentility. CHAPTER XXV. Shows what noise a bee can make when it gets into the house.