"Next Tuesday remember, but before that! Sunday you are to spend Sunday with me; come bright and early."
"How early?"
"Oh, as early as you please before breakfast and our Sunday morning breakfasts aren't late, Ellen; we have to set off betimes to go to church."
Kisses and good-byes; and then Ellen was running down the road at a great rate; for twilight was beginning to gather, and she had a good way to go.
She ran till out of breath; then walked awhile to gather breath; then ran again. Running down hill is a pretty quick way of travelling; so before very long she saw her aunt's house at a distance. She walked now. She had come all the way in good spirits, though with a sense upon her mind of something disagreeable to come; when she saw the house, this disagreeable something swallowed up all her thoughts, and she walked leisurely on, pondering what she had to do, and what she was like to meet in the doing of it.
"If Aunt Fortune should be in a bad humour and say something to vex me but I'll not be vexed. But it will be very hard to help it; but I will not be vexed; I have done wrong, and I'll tell her so, and ask her to forgive me; it will be hard but I'll do it I'll say what I ought to say, and then, however she takes it, I shall have the comfort of knowing I have done right." "But," said conscience, "you must not say it stiffly and proudly; you must say it humbly and as if you really felt and meant it." "I will," said Ellen.
She paused in the shed, and looked through the window, to see what was the promise of things within. Not good; her aunt's step sounded heavy and ominous; Ellen guessed she was not in a pleasant state of mind. She opened the door no doubt of it the whole air of Miss Fortune's figure, to the very handkerchief that was tied round her head, spoke displeasure.
"She isn't in a good mood," said Ellen, as she went upstairs to leave her bonnet and cape there; "I never knew her to be good-humoured when she had that handkerchief on."
She returned to the kitchen immediately. Her aunt was busied in washing and wiping the dishes.
"I have come home rather late," said Ellen, pleasantly; "shall I help you, Aunt Fortune?"