With this particularly cool statement of his matrimonial views, Mr. Van Brunt turned off into the barnyard, leaving Ellen to go home by herself. She felt as if she were walking on air while she crossed the chip-yard, and the very house had a seeming of unreality. Mechanically she put her flowers in water, and sat down to finish the beans; but the beans might have been flowers, and the flowers beans, for all the difference Ellen saw in them. Miss Fortune and she shunned each other's faces most carefully for a long time Ellen felt it impossible to meet her eyes; and it is a matter of great uncertainty which, in fact, did first look at the other. Other than this there was no manner of difference in anything without or within the house. Mr. Van Brunt's being absolutely speechless was not a very uncommon thing.
CHAPTER XLI.
"The clouds return after the rain."
As soon as she could, Ellen carried this wonderful news to Alice, and eagerly poured out the whole story, her walk and all. She was somewhat disappointed at the calmness of her hearer.
"But you don't seem half as surprised as I expected, Alice; I thought you would be so much surprised."
"I am not surprised at all, Ellie."
"Not! aren't you? why, did you know anything of this before?"
"I did not know, but I suspected. I thought it was very likely. I am very glad it is so."
"Glad! are you glad? I am so sorry. Why are you glad, Alice?"
"Why are you sorry, Ellie?"