Ellen's displeasure against her friends, the Ashtons, gradually subsided. Fanny, she knew, had nothing to do with the cause of offense; and when her changed manner to Mr. Harry had induced his urgent inquiries into the reason, she had allowed herself to be satisfied with his assurances that he had only spoken to disguise from his parents the real state of his feelings toward her, until he should be able to act independently of their authority. Alas! Poor Ellen in her gratified vanity did not pause to reflect, that the sin of the excuse was still greater than the original mischief; but, had she done so, she would have had no reason for surprise, for he who deliberately disregarded God was not likely to be scrupulous about the fifth commandment, or any other which opposed his inclination. Jane observed the renewal of the intercourse with great uneasiness, and made many attempts, by giving up her own greatest pleasure that of joining Mrs. Davis on a Sunday in order to induce her sister to walk with her alone, or remain at home together. "Have you quarreled with Mary Davis," asked Ellen on one occasion when this proposal was made, "that you are always teasing me to stay with you?" "No; but I have not quarreled with you either, and we so seldom have an afternoon together." "Why, you are so dreadfully dull now, you have nothing to talk about." "I am sure I will talk if you will listen to me," said Jane cheerfully. "Ah, you will, I dare say; but it is about what I don't want to hear. I don't know at all why you should think ill of me, Jane, and that I need to be saved, and all that. I go to church very often in a morning, and if I happen to miss a Sunday or two, I go twice in one day to make up for it; and when there is a collection you don't know how much I put in more than you think, depend upon it; and I shouldn't boast of it, only one must speak up for one's self." "It is not what I think, dear Ellen; I only tell you sometimes what the Bible says, and it is not possible to speak up for ourselves to God, you know. You must hear what he says some day; and if you have no Saviour to speak for you, what can you do?" "I hate to hear you, Jane," exclaimed Ellen impatiently; "it is all the nonsense that Mrs. Davis has put into your head, and I don't believe a word of it. You pretend to love me one minute, and the next you make out that I am so wicked I can't go to heaven. And then you would rob one of the only pleasure we have, our little treats on a Sunday." "I only want you to try to find your pleasure in another way, for I quite agree with you that we do need pleasure, or change, or recreation, whatever you please to call it, after six days' close work." "Then why in the world do you never take any?" asked Ellen, in great astonishment at the admission; "it is our own day, and we ought to enjoy it."