Ellen lifted her head but could not her eyes, though she tried to smile.
"I want to talk to you a little about this," said he. "You know you gave me leave to be your brother will you let me ask you a question or two?"
"Oh, yes whatever he pleased," Ellen said.
"Then sit down here," said he, making room for her on the wide window-seat, but still keeping hold of her hand and speaking very gently. "You said you saw when you took the morocco I don't quite understand how was it?"
"Why," said Ellen, "we were not to look, and we had gone three times round, and nobody had got that large piece yet, and we all wanted it; and I did not mean to look at all, but I don't know how it was, just before I shut my eyes I happened to see the corner of it sticking up, and then I took it."
"With your eyes open?"
"No, no, with them shut. And I had scarcely got it when I was sorry for it, and wished it back."
"You will wonder at me, perhaps, Ellie," said John, "but I am not very sorry this has happened. You are no worse than before; it has only made you see what you are very, very weak quite unable to keep yourself right without constant help. Sudden temptation was too much for you so it has many a time been for me, and so it has happened to the best men on earth. I suppose if you had had a minute's time to think, you would not have done as you did?"
"No, indeed!" said Ellen. "I was sorry a minute after."
"And I dare say the thought of it weighed upon your mind ever since?"