"How d'ye do, Mrs. Forbes?" said Ellen, holding out her hand; "don't you know me? I am Ellen Montgomery that you were so kind to, and gave me bread and milk when I first came here Miss Fortune's "
"Oh, bless your dear little heart!" cried the landlady; "don't I know you! and ain't I glad to see you! I must have a kiss. Bless you! I couldn't mistake you in Jerusalem; but the sun was in my eyes, in that way I was a'most blind. But ain't you grown, though! Forget you? I guess I han't! There's one o' your friends wouldn't let me do that in a hurry. If I han't seen you, I've heered on you. But what are you sitting there in the sun for? Come in come in and I'll give you something better than bread and milk this time. Come! jump down."
"Oh, I can't, Mrs. Forbes," said Ellen, "I am in a great hurry; Mr. Van Brunt has broken his leg, and I want to find the doctor."
"Mr. Van Brunt!" cried the landlady. "Broken his leg! The land's sakes! how did he do that? he, too!"
"He fell down through the trap-door in the barn; and I want to get Dr. Gibson, as soon as I can, come to him. Where does he live, Mrs. Forbes?"
"Dr. Gibson? you won't catch him to hum, dear; he's flying round somewheres. But how come the trap-door to be open? and how happened Mr. Van Brunt not to see it afore he put his foot in it? Dear! I declare I'm real sorry to hear you tell. How happened it, darlin'? I'm cur'ous to hear."
"I don't know, Mrs. Forbes," said Ellen, "but oh, where shall I find Dr. Gibson? Do tell me! he ought to be there now; oh, help me! where shall I go for him?"
"Well, I declare," said the landlady, stepping back a pace, "I don't know as I can tell there ain't no sort o' likelihood that he's to hum this time o' day. Sam! you lazy feller, you han't got nothing to do but gape at folks ha' you seen the doctor go by this forenoon?"
"I seen him go down to Mis' Perriman's," said Sam, "Mis'
Perriman was a-dyin', Jim Barstow said."
"How long since?" said his mistress.