She seized Ellen's hand and pulled her towards the door, but suddenly stopped again.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," she said; "I asked aunt Sophia about the bag of moroccoes, and she said she would have 'em early to-morrow morning, and then we can divide 'em right away."
"We mustn't divide 'em till Maggie comes," said Marianne.
"Oh, no not till Maggie comes," said little Ellen; and then ran off again.
"I am so glad you are come!" said she; "the others are all so much older, and they have all so much to do together and now you can help me think what I will make for Mamma. Hush! don't say a word about it!"
They entered the large drawing-room, where old and young were soon gathered for tea. The children, who had dined early, sat down to a well-spread table, at which Miss Sophia presided; the elder persons were standing or sitting in different parts of the room. Ellen, not being hungry, had leisure to look about her, and her eyes soon wandered from the tea-table in search of her old friends. Alice was sitting by Mrs. Marshman, talking with two other ladies; but Ellen smiled presently, as she caught her eye from the far end of the room, and got a little nod of recognition. John came up just then to set down his coffee-cup, and asked her what she was smiling at.
"That's city manners," said William Gillespie, "to laugh at what's going on."
"I have no doubt we shall all follow the example," said John Humphreys, gravely, "if the young gentleman will try to give us a smile."
The young gentleman had just accommodated himself with an outrageously large mouthful of bread and sweetmeats, and if ever so well-disposed, compliance with the request was impossible. None of the rest, however, not even his sister, could keep their countenances, for the eye of the speaker had pointed and sharpened his words; and William, very red in the face, was understood to mumble, as soon as mumbling was possible, that "he wouldn't laugh unless he had a mind to," and a threat to "do something" to his tormentor.
"Only not eat me," said John, with a shade of expression in his look and tone which overcame the whole party, himself and poor William alone retaining entire gravity.