"Oh, everybody Miss Jenny, and Miss Jane Huff, and Miss Janet, and Mrs. Van Brunt, and Mr. Huff they all speak so kindly, and look so kindly at me. But it's very funny what a notion people have for kissing I wish they hadn't I've run away from three kisses already, and I'm so afraid somebody else will try next."
"You don't seem very bitterly displeased," said Alice, smiling.
"I am, though I can't bear it," said Ellen, laughing and blushing. "There's Mr. Dennison caught me, in the first place, and tried to kiss me, but I tried so hard to get away, I believe he saw I was really in good earnest, and let me go. And just now only think of it! while I was standing talking to Miss Jane Huff, downstairs, her brother caught me, and kissed me, before I knew what he was going to do. I declare it's too bad!" said Ellen, rubbing her cheek very hard, as if she would rub off the affront.
"You must let it pass, my dear; it is one way of expressing kindness. They feel kindly towards you, or they would not do it."
"Then I wish they wouldn't feel quite so kindly," said Ellen "that's all. Hark! what was that?"
"What is that?" said somebody else; and instantly there was silence, broken again, after a minute or two, by the faint blast of a horn.
"It's old Father Swaim, I reckon," said Mr. Van Brunt; "I'll go fetch him in."
"Oh, yes! bring him in bring him in," was heard on all sides.
"That horn makes me think of what happened to me once," said Jenny Hitchcock to Ellen. "I was a little girl at school, not so big as you are; and one afternoon, when we were all as still as mice, and studying away, we heard Father Swaim's horn "
"What does he blow it for?" said Ellen, as Jenny stooped for her knife, which she had let fall.