"Have you done?"
"I don't know, Maam," said Nancy, shaking her head; "it's just as it happens."
"You tell your granny I am going to have a bee here next
Monday evening, and ask her if she'll come to it."
Nancy nodded. "If it's good weather," she added, conditionally.
"Stop, Nancy!" said Miss Fortune "here!" for Nancy was shutting the door behind her. "As sure as you come here Monday night without your grandma, you'll go out of the house quicker than you come in; see if you don't!"
With another gracious nod and smile, Nancy departed.
"Well," said Mr. Van Brunt, rising, "I'll despatch this business down-stairs, and then I'll bring up the sleigh. The pickle's ready, I suppose."
"No, it ain't," said Miss Fortune, "I couldn't make it yesterday; but it's all in the kettle, and I told Sam to make a fire down-stairs, so you can put it on when you do down. The kits are all ready, and the salt, and everything else."
Mr. Van Brunt went down the stairs that led to the lower kitchen; and Miss Fortune, to make up for lost time, set about her morning's work with even an uncommon measure of activity. Ellen, in consideration of her being still weak, was not required to do anything. She sat and looked on, keeping out of the way of her bustling aunt as far as it was possible; but Miss Fortune's gyrations were of that character, that no one could tell five minutes beforehand what she might consider "in the way." Ellen wished for her quiet room again. Mr. Van Brunt's voice sounded downstairs in tones of business; what could he be about? it must be very uncommon business that kept him in the house. Ellen grew restless with the desire to go and see, and to change her aunt's company for his; and no sooner was Miss Fortune fairly shut up in the buttery at some secret work, than Ellen gently opened the door at the head of the lower stairs, and looked down. Mr. Van Brunt was standing at the bottom, and looked up.
"May I come down there, Mr. Van Brunt?" said Ellen, softly.