"Cakes, child, cakes turnpike-cakes what I raise the bread with."
"What, those little brown cakes I have seen you melt in water and mix in the flour when you make bread?"
"Mercy on us! yes! you've seen hundreds of 'em since you've been here, if you never saw one before."
"I never did," said Ellen. "But what are they called turnpikes for?"
"The land knows! I don't. For mercy's sake, stop asking me questions, Ellen; I don't know what's gotten into you; you'll drive me crazy."
"But there's one more question I want to ask very much," said
Ellen, with her heart beating.
"Well, ask it, then, quick, and have done, and take yourself off. I have other fish to fry than to answer all your questions."
Miss Fortune, however, was still quietly seated by the fire stirring her meal and hop-water, and Ellen could not be quick; the words stuck in her throat came out at last.
"Aunt Fortune, I wanted to ask you if I may go to school."
"Yes."