"Has Alice come back?" cried Ellen. But Margery only laughed and said "Run in!"
Up the steps, through the kitchen, and across the hall, Ellen ran burst open the parlour door and was in Alice's arms. There were others in the room, but Ellen did not seem to know it, clinging to her, and holding her in a fast, glad embrace, till Alice bade her look up, and attend to somebody else. And then she was seized round the neck by little Ellen Chauncey! and then came her mother, and then Miss Sophia. The two children were overjoyed to see each other, while their joy was touching to see, from the shade of sorrow in the one, and of sympathy in the other. Ellen was scarcely less glad to see kind Mrs. Chauncey; Miss Sophia's greeting, too, was very affectionate. But Ellen returned to Alice, and rested herself in her lap, with one arm round her neck, the other hand being in little Ellen's grasp.
"And now you are happy, I suppose?" said Miss Sophia, when they were thus placed.
"Very," said Ellen, smiling.
"Ah, but you'll be happier by-and-by," said Ellen Chauncey.
"Hush, Ellen!" said Miss Sophia; "what curious things children are! You didn't expect to find us all here, did you, Ellen Montgomery?"
"No, indeed, Ma'am," said Ellen, drawing Alice's cheek nearer for another kiss.
"We have but just come, Ellie," said her sister. "I should not have been long in finding you out. My child, how thin you have got."
"Oh, I'll grow fat again now," said Ellen.
"How is Miss Fortune?"