Ellen stood a moment stock still, just where he had left her, struggling with her feelings of mortification; she could not endure to let them be seen. Her face was on fire; her head was dizzy. She could not stir at first, and, in spite of her utmost efforts, she _could_ not command back one or two rebel tears that forced their way; she lifted her hand to her face to remove them as quickly as possible. "What is all this about, my little girl?" said a strange voice at her side. Ellen started, and turned her face, with the tears but half wiped away, toward the speaker. It was an old gentleman, an odd old gentleman too, she thought; one she certainly would have been rather shy of if she had seen him under other circumstances. But though his face was odd, it looked kindly upon her, and it was a kind tone of voice in which this question had been put; so he seemed to her like a friend. "What is all this?" repeated the old gentleman. Ellen began to tell what it was, but the pride which had forbidden her to weep before strangers gave way at one touch of sympathy, and she poured out tears much faster than words as she related her story, so that it was some little time before the old gentleman could get a clear notion of her case. He waited very patiently till she had finished; but then he set himself in good earnest about righting the wrong. "Hallo! you, sir!" he shouted, in a voice that made everybody look round; "you merino man! come and show your goods: why aren't you at your post, sir?"--as Mr. Saunders came up with an altered countenance--"here's a young lady you've left standing unattended to I don't know how long; are these your manners?" "The young lady did not wish anything, I believe, sir," returned Mr. Saunders softly. "You know better, you scoundrel," retorted the old gentleman, who was in a great passion; "I saw the whole matter with my own eyes. You are a disgrace to the store, sir, and deserve to be sent out of it, which you are like enough to be." "I really thought, sir," said Mr. Saunders smoothly,--for he knew the old gentleman, and knew very well he was a person that must not be offended,--"I really thought--I was not aware, sir, that the young lady had any occasion for my services." "Well, show your wares, sir, and hold your tongue. Now, my dear, what did you want?" "I wanted a little bit of this grey merino, sir, to show to mamma. I couldn't buy it, you know, sir, until I found out whether she would like it." "Cut a piece, sir, without any words," said the old gentleman. Mr. Saunders obeyed. "Did you like this best?" pursued the old gentleman. "I like this dark blue very much, sir, and I thought mamma would; but it's too high." "How much is it?" inquired he. "Fourteen shillings," replied Mr. Saunders. "He said it was two dollars!" exclaimed Ellen. "I beg pardon," said the crestfallen Mr. Saunders, "the young lady mistook me; I was speaking of another piece when I said two dollars."