"No," said Ellen, as she eagerly sprang forward to take his hand; "Ellen promised to go with me, but we have been so busy."
"Will you come, Alice?"
"Not I," said Alice, "I wish I could, but I shall be wanted elsewhere."
"By whom, I wonder, so much as by me?" said her brother.
"However, after to-morrow I will have you all to myself."
As he and Ellen were crossing the hall, they met Mrs.
Marshman.
"Where are you going, John?" said she.
"Where I ought to have been before, Ma'am to pay my respects to Mr. Hutchinson."
"You've not seen him yet! that is very ungrateful of you. Hutchinson is one of your warmest friends and admirers. There are few people he mentions with so much respect, or that he is so glad to see, as Mr. John Humphreys."
"A distinction I owe, I fear, principally to my English blood," said John, shaking his head.
"It is not altogether that," said Mrs. Marshman, laughing; "though I do believe; I am the only Yankee good Hutchinson has ever made up his mind entirely to like. But go and see him do, he will be very much pleased."