"And I was right," said Miss Fortune.
Ellen was silent. Mr. Van Brunt looked from one to the other.
"Speak," said Miss Fortune; "tell him the whole, if you mean what you say."
"I can't," said Ellen.
"Why, you said you were wrong," said Miss Fortune; "that's only half of the business; if you were wrong, I was right; why don't you say so, and not make such a shilly-shally piece of work of it?"
"I said I was wrong," said Ellen "and so I was; but I never said you were right, Aunt Fortune, and I don't think so."
These words, though moderately spoken, were enough to put Miss
Fortune in a rage.
"What did I do that was wrong?" she said; "come, I should like to know. What was it, Ellen? Out with it; say everything you can think of; stop and hear it, Mr. Van Brunt; come, Ellen: let's hear the whole!"
"Thank you, Maam, I've heerd quite enough," said that gentleman, as he went out and closed the door.
"And I have said too much," said Ellen. "Pray forgive me, Aunt Fortune. I shouldn't have said that if you hadn't pressed me so; I forgot myself a moment. I am sorry I said that."