"Come here. What are you thinking about? I didn't know you were there till I heard two or three very long sighs. What is the matter with my little sister?"
He took her hand and drew her fondly up to him. "What were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about different things nothing is the matter," said Ellen.
"Then what are those tears in your eyes for?"
"I don't know," said she, laughing "there weren't any till I came here. I was thinking just now about Mamma."
He said no more still, however, keeping her beside him.
"I should think," said Ellen presently, after a few minutes' musing look out of the window, "it would be very pleasant if there were such things as oracles don't you, Mr. John?"
"No."
"But wouldn't you like to know something about what's going to happen?"
"I do know a great deal about it."