Ellen's face turned very red, and she answered quickly, "How can it be my fault when I try so hard to help it?"
"My child, the fault must lie somewhere; whose is it if it is not yours?"
"I didn't make myself," said Ellen, sullenly.
"And would you say, my dear Ellen, that the fault is His who made you?"
Ellen was silent—she dared not say this with her lips—yet it was the language of her heart.
"Ellen, since you began to notice your bad temper has it not become worse?—are you not more easily made angry now than you were formerly?"
Mrs. Herbert paused, but Ellen did not answer.
"Speak, my dear Ellen, you must place confidence in me, if you would have my help in getting rid of this evil. Is it not as I say, Ellen?"
"Yes," whispered Ellen, again hiding her face on her aunt's shoulder.
"Whose fault has this been, Ellen?—has God, do you think, continued to make your temper worse and worse?"