"Oh, yes, indeed," said Ellen; "I had forgotten it entirely; what is it, Miss Alice?"
"You know, I told you one concerns only myself, but it is great news to me. I learnt this morning that my brother will come to spend the holidays with me. It is many months since I have seen him."
"Does he live far away?" said Ellen.
"Yes he has gone far away to pursue his studies, and cannot come home often. The other piece of news is, that I intend, if you have no objection, to ask Miss Fortune's leave to have you spend the holidays with me too."
"Oh, delightful!" said Ellen, starting up, and clapping her hands, and then throwing them round her adopted sister's neck; "dear Alice, how good you are!"
"Then I suppose I may reckon upon your consent," said Alice "and I'll speak to Miss Fortune, without delay."
"Oh, thank you, dear Miss Alice; how glad I am! I shall be happy all the time from now till then thinking of it. You aren't going?"
"I must."
"Ah, don't go yet! Sit down again; you know you're my sister don't you want to read Mamma's letter?"
"If you please, Ellen I should like it very much."