She advanced towards it, plate and lamp in hand, and setting her back against the door, shut it vigorously. "Who are you? and what's wanting?" "I am Ellen Montgomery, ma'am," said Ellen timidly. "_What?_" said the lady, with some emphasis. "Didn't you expect me, ma'am?" said Ellen; "papa said he would write." "Why, is this Ellen Montgomery?" said Miss Fortune, apparently forced to the conclusion that it must be. "Yes, ma'am," said Ellen. Miss Fortune went to the table and put the butter and the lamp in their places. "Did you say your father wrote to tell me of your coming?" "He said he would, ma'am," said Ellen. "He didn't! Never sent me a line. Just like him! I never yet knew Morgan Montgomery do a thing when he promised he would." Ellen's face flushed, and her heart swelled. She stood motionless. "How did you get down here to-night?" "I came in Mr. Van Brunt's ox-cart," said Ellen. "Mr. Van Brunt's ox-cart! Then he's got home, has he?" And hearing at that instant a noise outside, Miss Fortune swept to the door, saying as she opened it, "Sit down, child, and take off your things." The first command at least Ellen obeyed gladly; she did not feel enough at home to comply with the second. She only took off her bonnet. "Well, Mr. Van Brunt," said Miss Fortune at the door, "have you brought me a barrel of flour?" "No, Miss Fortune," said the voice of Ellen's charioteer, "I've brought you something better than that." "Where did you find her?" said Miss Fortune, something shortly. "Up at Forbes's." "What have you got there?" "A trunk. Where is it to go?" "A trunk! Bless me! it must go upstairs; but how it is ever to get there, I am sure I don't know." "I'll find a way to get it there, I'll engage, if you'll be so good as to open the door for me, ma'am." "Indeed you won't! That'll never do! With your shoes!" said Miss Fortune, in a tone of indignant housewifery. "Well, without my shoes then," said Mr. Van Brunt, with a half giggle, as Ellen heard the shoes kicked off. "Now, ma'am, out of my way; give me a road." Miss Fortune seized the lamp, and opening another door, ushered Mr. Van Brunt and the trunk out of the kitchen and up, Ellen saw not whither. In a minute or two they returned, and he of the ox-cart went out. "Supper's just ready, Mr. Van Brunt," said the mistress of the house. "Can't stay, ma'am, it's so late; must hurry home." And he closed the door behind him. "What made you so late?" asked Miss Fortune of Ellen. "I don't know, ma'am--I believe Mr. Van Brunt said the blacksmith had kept him." Miss Fortune bustled about a few minutes in silence, setting some things on the table and filling the teapot. "Come," she said to Ellen, "take off your coat and come to the table. You must be hungry by this time. It's a good while since you had your dinner, ain't it? Come, mother."