"My pony. An odd name, isn't it? It wasn't of my choosing, Ellen, but he deserves it, if ever pony did. He's a very cunning little fellow. Where do you go, Ellen? to Thirlwall?"
"To church, Maam! I don't go anywhere."
"Doesn't your aunt go to church?"
"She hasn't since I have been here."
"What do you do with yourself on Sunday?"
"Nothing, Maam; I don't know what to do with myself all the day long. I get tired of being in the house, and I go out of doors; and then I get tired of being out of doors, and come in again. I wanted a kitten dreadfully, but Mr. Van Brunt said aunt Fortune would not let me keep one."
"Did you want a kitten to help you keep Sunday, Ellen?" said her friend, smiling.
"Yes, I did, Maam," said Ellen, smiling again. "I thought it would be a great deal of company for me. I got very tired of reading all day long, and I had nothing to read but the Bible; and you know, Maam, I told you I have been all wrong ever since I came here, and I didn't like to read that much."
"My poor child!" said the lady "you have been hardly bestead, I think. What if you were to come and spend next Sunday with me? Don't you think I should do instead of a kitten?"
"Oh, yes, Maam, I am sure of it," said Ellen, clinging to
her. "Oh, I'll come gladly, if you will let me and if aunt
Fortune will let me; and I hope she will, for she said last
Sunday I was the plague of her life."