"So you wash your face in your hands, and have no pitcher but a long wooden trough? Poor child! I am sorry for you. I think you must have some other way of managing before the snow comes." "The water is bitterly cold already," said Ellen. "It's the coldest water I ever saw. Mamma gave me a nice dressing-box before I came away, but I found very soon this was a queer place for a dressing-box to come to. Why, Miss Alice, if I take out my brush or comb I haven't any table to lay them on but one that's too high, and my poor dressing-box has to stay on the floor. And I haven't a sign of a bureau; all my things are tumbling about in my trunk." "I think if I were in your place I would not permit _that_, at any rate," said Alice. "If my things were confined to my trunk I would have them keep good order there, at least." "Well, so they do," said Ellen; "pretty good order. I didn't mean 'tumbling about' exactly." "Always try to say what you mean _exactly_. But now, Ellen love, do you know I must send you away? Do you see the sunlight has quitted those distant hills? And it will be quite gone soon. You must hasten home." Ellen made no answer. Alice had taken her on her lap again, and she was nestling there with her friend's arms wrapped around her. Both were quite still for a minute. "Next week, if nothing happens, we will begin to be busy with our books. You shall come to me on Tuesday and Friday; and all the other days you must study as hard as you can at home, for I am very particular, I forewarn you." "But suppose Aunt Fortune should not let me come?" said Ellen, without stirring. "Oh, she will. You need not speak about it; I'll come down and ask her myself, and nobody ever refuses me anything." "I shouldn't think they would," said Ellen. "Then don't you set the first example," said Alice laughingly. "I ask you to be cheerful and happy, and grow wiser and better every day." "Dear Miss Alice! How can I promise that?" "Dear Ellen, it is very easy. There is One who has promised to hear and answer you when you cry to Him; He will make you in His own likeness again; and to know and love Him and not be happy is impossible. That blessed Saviour!" said Alice; "oh, what should you and I do without Him, Ellen? 'As rivers of waters in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.' How beautiful! how true! how often I think of that." Ellen was silent, though entering into the feeling of the words. "Remember Him, dear Ellen; remember your best friend. Learn more of Christ, our dear Saviour, and you can't help but be happy. Never fancy you are helpless and friendless while you have Him to go to. Whenever you feel wearied and sorry, flee to the shadow of that great rock; will you? and do you understand me?" "Yes, ma'am--yes, ma'am," said Ellen, as she lifted her lips to kiss her friend. Alice heartily returned the kiss, and pressing Ellen in her arms, said--