"Watching for fish!" said the other, rather disdainfully.
"Yes," said Ellen, "there, in that little quiet place they come sometimes I've seen two."
"You can look for fish another time. Come now, and take a walk with me."
"Where?" said Ellen.
"Oh, you shall see. Come! I'll take you all about and show you where people live. You ha'nt been anywhere yet, have you?"
"No," said Ellen, "and I should like dearly to go, but"
She hesitated. Her aunt's words came to mind, that this was not a good girl, and that she must have nothing to do with her; but she had not more than half believed them, and she could not possibly bring herself now to go in and ask Miss Fortune's leave to take this walk. "I am sure," thought Ellen, "she would refuse me if there was no reason in the world." And then the delight of rambling though the beautiful country, and being for a while in other company than that of her aunt Fortune and the old grandmother! The temptation was too great to be withstood.
"Well, what are you thinking about?" said the girl; "what's the matter? won't you come?"
"Yes," said Ellen, "I'm ready. Which way shall we go?"
With the assurance from the other that she would show her plenty of ways, they set off down the lane Ellen with a secret fear of being seen and called back till they had gone some distance, and the house was hid from view. Then her pleasure became great. The afternoon was fair and mild, the footing pleasant, and Ellen felt like a bird out of a cage. She was ready to be delighted with every trifle; her companion could not by any means understand or enter into her bursts of pleasure at many a little thing which she of the black eyes thought not worthy of notice. She tried to bring Ellen back to higher subjects of conversion.