"It is done," said Ellen, smiling, as she rose up to let him come. He sat down to look at it. "It is very well," he said; "better than I expected. It is very well indeed. Is this your _first_ trial, Ellen?" "Yes, the first." "You found it pleasant work?" "Oh, very! very pleasant. I like it dearly." "Then I will teach you. This shows you have a taste for it, and that is precisely what I wanted to find out. I will give you an easier copy next time. I rather expected when you sat down," said he, smiling a little, "that the old tree would grow a good deal more crooked under your hands than I meant it to be." Ellen blushed exceedingly. "I do believe, Mr. John," she said, stammering, "that you know everything I am thinking about." "I might do that, Ellen, without being as wise as an oracle. But I do not expect to make any very painful discoveries in that line," answered John Humphreys. Ellen thought, if he did not, it would not be her fault. She truly repented her momentary anger and hasty speech to William. Not that he did not deserve it, or that it was not true; but it was unwise, and had done mischief, and "it was not a bit like peacemaking, nor meek at all," Ellen said to herself. She had been reading that morning the fifth chapter of Matthew, and it ran in her head, "Blessed are the meek;" "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." She strove to get back a pleasant feeling toward her young companions, and prayed that she might not be angry at anything they should say. She was tried again at tea-time. Miss Sophia had quitted the table, bidding William hand the dough-nuts to those who could not reach them. Marianne took a great while to make her choice. Her brother grew impatient. "Well, I hope you have suited yourself," said he. "Come, Miss Montgomery, don't you be as long; my arm is tired. Shut your eyes, and then you'll be sure to get the biggest one in the basket." "No, Ellen," said John, who none of the children thought was near, "it would be ungenerous; I wouldn't deprive Master William of his best arguments." "What do you mean by my arguments?" said William sharply. "Generally, those which are the most difficult to take in," answered his tormentor, with perfect gravity. Ellen tried to keep from smiling, but could not; and others of the party did not try. William and his sister were enraged, the more because John had said nothing they could take hold of, or even repeat. Gilbert made common cause with them. "I wish I was grown up for once," said William. "Will you fight _me_, sir?" asked Gilbert, who was a matter of three years older, and well grown enough. His question received no answer, and was repeated. "No, sir." "Why not, sir?" "I am afraid you'd lay me up with a sprained ankle," said John, "and I should not get back to Doncaster as quickly as I must." "It is very mean of him," said Gilbert, as John walked away; "I could whip him, I know." "Who's that?" said Mr. Howard Marshman.