"Oh, no, Miss Alice, indeed we haven't; but we have got through the worst."
"Is the next one so bad it would spoil our supper?"
"No," said Ellen, "it couldn't do that, but it's bad enough, though; it's about my not going to school. Miss Alice, I promised myself I would learn so much while Mamma was away, and surprise her when she came back, but instead of that I am not learning anything. I don't mean not learning anything," said Ellen, correcting herself; "but I can't do much. When I found Aunt Fortune wasn't going to send me to school, I determined I would try to study by myself; and I have tried; but I can't get along."
"Well, now, don't lay down your knife and fork and look so doleful," said Alice, smiling; "this is a matter I can help you in. What are you studying?"
"Some things I can manage well enough," said Ellen "the easy things; but I cannot understand my arithmetic without some one to explain it to me: and French I can do nothing at all with, and that is what I wanted to learn most of all; and often I want to ask questions about my history."
"Suppose," said Alice, "you go on studying by yourself as much and as well as you can, and bring your books up to me two or three times a week; I will hear and explain and answer questions to your heart's content, unless you should be too hard for me. What do you say to that?"
Ellen said nothing to it, but the colour that rushed to her cheeks the surprised look of delight were answer enough.
"It will do, then," said Alice; "and I have no doubt we shall untie the knot of those arithmetical problems very soon. But, Ellen, my dear, I cannot help you in French, for I do not know it myself. What will you do about that?"
"I don't know, Maam; I am sorry."
"So am I, for your sake. I can help you in Latin, if that would be any comfort to you."