"I mean you may have it," said Ellen "I don't want it."
"Well, I'll tell you what," said the other "I'll give you yellow satin for it or some of my red morocco!"
"No, I had rather not," repeated Ellen; "I don't want it you may have it."
"Very generously done," remarked Miss Sophia; "I hope you'll all take a lesson in the art of being obliging."
"Quite a noble little girl," said Mrs. Gillespie.
Ellen crimsoned. "No, Ma'am, I am not, indeed," she said, looking at them with eyes that were filling fast; "please don't say so I don't deserve it."
"I shall say what I think, my dear," said Mrs. Gillespie, smiling; "but I am glad you add the grace of modesty to that of generosity; it is the more uncommon of the two."
"I am not modest! I am not generous! you mustn't say so," cried Ellen. She struggled; the blood rushed to the surface, suffusing every particle of skin that could be seen; then left it, as with eyes cast down she went on "I don't deserve to be praised it was more Margaret's than mine. I oughtn't to have kept it at all for I saw a little bit when I put my hand in. I didn't mean to, but I did!"
Raising her eyes hastily to Alice's face, they met those of John, who was standing behind her. She had not counted upon him for one of her listeners; she knew Mrs. Gillespie, Mrs. Chauncey, Miss Sophia, and Alice, had heard her; but this was the one drop too much. Her head sunk; she covered her face a moment, and then made her escape out of the room, before even Ellen could follow her.
There was a moment's silence. Alice seemed to have some difficulty not to follow Ellen's example. Margaret pouted; Mrs. Chauncey's eyes filled with tears and her little daughter seemed divided between doubt and dismay. Her first move, however, was to run off in pursuit of Ellen. Alice went after her.