"Margaret was showing us her ear-rings, and she asked me if I wouldn't like to have some like them; and I couldn't help thinking I would a great deal rather have the money they would cost to buy something for Alice; and just when I said so, you came in, Sir, and she said what she did. I was very much ashamed. I wasn't thinking of you, Sir, at all, nor of New Year."
"Then you would like something else better than money."
"No, Sir, nothing at all, if you please. If you'll only be so good as not to give me this, I will be very much obliged to you indeed; and please not to think I could be so shameful as you thought I was."
Ellen's face was not to be withstood. The old gentleman took the bill from her hand.
"I will never think anything of you," said he, "but what is the very tip-top of honourable propriety. But you make me ashamed now what am I going to do with this? here have you come and made me a present, and I feel very awkward indeed."
"I don't care what you do with it, Sir," said Ellen, laughing, though in imminent danger of bursting into tears! "I am very glad it is out of my hands."
"But you needn't think I am going to let you off so," said he "you must give me half a dozen kisses at least, to prove that you have forgiven me for making so great a blunder."
"Half a dozen is too many at once," said Ellen, gaily; "three now, and three to-night."
So she gave the old gentleman three kisses, but he caught her in his arms and gave her a dozen at least; after which he found out that the waiter was holding a cup of coffee at his elbow, and Ellen went back to her place with a very good appetite for her breakfast.
After breakfast the needlecases were delivered. Both gave the most entire satisfaction. Mrs. Chauncey assured her daughter that she would quite as lief have a yellow as a red rose on the cover, and that she liked the inscription extremely; which the little girl acknowledged to have been a joint device of her own and Ellen's. Ellen's bag gave great delight, and was paraded all over the house.