"What has brought about this dreadful state of things?" said
Alice, after a few minutes. "Whose fault is it, Ellen?"
"I think it is Aunt Fortune's fault," said Ellen, raising her head; "I don't think it is mine. If she had behaved well to me, I should have behaved well to her. I meant to, I am sure."
"Do you mean to say you do not think you have been in fault at all in the matter?"
"No, Maam, I do not mean to say that. I have been very much in fault, very often I know that. I get very angry and vexed, and sometimes I say nothing, but sometimes I get out of all patience and say things I ought not. I did so to-day; but it is so very hard to keep still when I am in such a passion, and now I have got to feel so towards Aunt Fortune that I don't like the sight of her; I hate the very look of her bonnet hanging up on the wall. I know it isn't right; and it makes me miserable; and I can't help it, for I grow worse and worse every day and what shall I do?"
Ellen's tears came faster than her words.
"Ellen, my child," said Alice, after a while, "There is but one way. You know what I said to you yesterday?"
"I know it; but, dear Miss Alice, in my reading this morning I came to that verse that speaks about not being forgiven if we do not forgive others; and oh! how it troubles me! for I can't feel that I forgive Aunt Fortune; I feel vexed whenever the thought of her comes into my head; and how can I behave right to her while I feel so?"
"You are right there, my dear; you cannot, indeed. The heart must be set right before the life can be."
"But what shall I do to set it right?"
"Pray."