" 'Cause Mr.Van Brunt was speaking to her about it. Go in and you'll see."
Nancy looked doubtfully at Ellen's face, and then ran hastily in. More slowly Ellen went back by the way she came. When she reached the upper kitchen she found Nancy as busy as possible as much at home already as if she had been there all day; helping to set the table in the hall, and going to and fro between that and the buttery with an important face. Ellen was not suffered to help, nor even to stand and see what was doing; so she sat down in the corner, by her old friend Mrs. Van Brunt, and with her head in her lap watched, by the fire- light, the busy figures that went back and forward, and Mr. Van Brunt, who still sat working at his bits of board. There were pleasant thoughts in Ellen's head, that kept the dancing blaze company. Mr. Van Brunt once looked up, and asked her what she was smiling at; the smile brightened at his question, but he got no more answer.
At last the supper was all set out in the hall, so that it could very easily be brought into the parlour when the time came; the waiter, with the best cups and saucers, which always stood covered with a napkin on the table in the front room, was carried away; the great pile of wood in the parlour fire place, built ever since morning, was kindled; all was in apple-pie order, and nothing was left but to sweep up the shavings that Mr. Van Brunt had made. This was done; and then Nancy seized hold of Ellen.
"Come along," said she, pulling her to the window "come along, and let us watch the folks come in."
"But it isn't time for them to be here yet," said Ellen; "the fire is only just burning."
"Fiddle-de-dee! they won't wait for the fire to burn, I can tell you. They'll be along directly, some of them. I wonder what Miss Fortune is thinking of that fire had ought to have been burning this long time ago but they won't set to work till they all get here, that's one thing. Do you know what's going to be for supper?"
"No."
"Not a bit?"
"No."
"Ain't that funny! Then I'm better off than you. I say, Ellen, any one would think I was Miss Fortune's niece, and you was somebody else, wouldn't they? Goodness! I'm glad I ain't. I am going to make part of the supper myself what do you think of that? Miss Fortune always has grand suppers when she has 'em at all; 'tain't very often, that's one thing. I wish she'd have a bee every week, I know, and let me come and help. Hark! didn't I tell you? there's somebody coming this minute; don't you hear the sleigh-bells? I'll tell you who it is now; it's the Lawsons you see if it ain't. It's good it's such a bright night we can see 'em first-rate. There here they come just as I told you here's Mimy Lawson the first one if there's anybody I do despise, it's Mimy Lawson."