"What is it?" continued the old gentleman. "Is anything the matter."
Ellen desperately took up the bill, and with burning cheeks, marched to his end of the table.
"I am very much obliged to you, Sir, but I had a great deal rather not if you please if you will please to be so good as to let me give it back to you I should be very glad."
"Why, hoity-toity!" said the old gentleman "what's all this? what's the matter? don't you like it? I thought I was doing the very thing that would please you best of all."
"I am very sorry you should think so, Sir," said Ellen, who had recovered a little breath, but had the greatest difficulty to keep back her tears; "I never thought of such a thing as your giving me anything, Sir, till somebody spoke of it; and I had rather never have anything in the world than that you should think what you thought about me."
"What did I think about you?"
"George told me that somebody told you, Sir, I wanted money for my present."
"And didn't you say so?"
"Indeed I didn't, Sir!" said Ellen, with a sudden fire. "I never thought of such a thing!"
"What did you say then?"