"Why, you don't mean to say," said he, "that you are thinking, or she is thinking, you can get along here alone without help?" "I'll get along somehow," said Ellen. "Never mind, please let me, Mr. Van Brunt; it would worry Aunt Fortune very much to have anybody; don't say anything about it." "Worry her!" said he; and he muttered something Ellen did not quite understand, about "bringing the old woman to reason." However he went off for the present; and Ellen filled up her teapot and carried it upstairs. Her old grandmother was awake; before, when Ellen was in the room, she had been napping; now she showed the greatest delight at seeing her; fondled her, kissed her, cried over her, and finally insisted on getting up directly and going downstairs. Ellen received and returned her caresses with great tenderness, and then began to help her to rise and dress. "Yes, do," said Miss Fortune; "I shall have a little better chance of sleeping. My stars! Ellen, what do you call this?" "Isn't it catnip?" said Ellen, alarmed. "Catnip! it tastes of nothing but the tea-kettle. It's as weak as dish-water. Take it down and make some more. How much did you put in? you want a good double handful, stalks and all; make it strong. I can't drink such stuff as that. I think if I could get into a sweat I should be better." Ellen went down, established her grandmother in her old corner, and made some more tea. Then, her irons being hot, she began to iron; doing double duty at the same time, for Mrs. Montgomery had one of her talking fits on, and it was necessary to hear and answer a great many things. Presently the first visitor appeared in the shape of Nancy. "Well, Ellen!" said she; "so Miss Fortune is really sick for once, and you are keeping house. Ain't you grand?" "I don't feel very grand," said Ellen. "I don't know what is the matter with these clothes; I _cannot_ make 'em look smooth." "Irons ain't hot," said Nancy. "Yes they are, too hot. I've scorched a towel already." "My goodness, Ellen! I guess you have. If Miss Fortune was down you'd get it. Why, they're bone dry!" said Nancy, plunging her hand into the basket; "you haven't sprinkled 'em, have you?" "To be sure," said Ellen, with an awakened face, "I forgot it!" "Here, get out of the way, _I'll_ do it for you," said Nancy, rolling up her sleeves, and pushing Ellen from the table; "you just get me a bowl of water, will you? and we'll have 'em done in no time. Who's acoming to help you?" "Nobody." "Nobody! you poor chicken; do you think you're agoing to do all the work of the house yourself?" "No," said Ellen, "but I can do a good deal, and the rest will have to go." "You ain't going to do no such thing; I'll stay myself." "No, you can't, Nancy," said Ellen quietly. "I guess I will if I've a mind to. I should like to know how you'd help it; Miss Fortune's abed." "I could help it though," said Ellen; "but I am sure you won't when I ask you not."