The first few days after John's departure were indeed sad days very sad to every one; it could not be otherwise. Ellen drooped miserably. She had, however, the best possible companion in her old Swiss friend. Her good sense, her steady cheerfulness, her firm principle, were always awake for Ellen's good ever ready to comfort her, to cheer her, to prevent her from giving undue way to sorrow, to urge her to useful exertion. Affection and gratitude to the living and the dead, gave powerful aid to these efforts. Ellen rose up in the morning, and lay down at night, with the present pressing wish to do and be, for the ease and comfort of her adopted father and brother, all that it was possible for her. Very soon, so soon as she could rouse herself to anything, she began to turn over in her mind all manner of ways and means for this end. And in general, whatever Alice would have wished, what John did wish, was law to her.
"Margery," said Ellen, one day, "I wish you would tell me all the things Alice used to do; so that I may begin to do them, you know, as soon as I can."
"What things, Miss Ellen?"
"I mean the things she used to do about the house, or to help you don't you know? all sorts of things. I want to know them all, so that I may do them as she did. I want to very much."
"Oh, Miss Ellen, dear," said Margery, tearfully, "you are too little and tender to do them things I'd be sorry to see you, indeed!"
"Why, no, I am not, Margery," said Ellen; "don't you know how
I used to do at Aunt Fortune's? Now, tell me, please, dear
Margery! If I can't do it, I won't, you know."
"Oh, Miss Ellen, she used to see to various things about the house I don't know as I can tell 'em all directly; some was to help me; and some to please her father, or Mr. John, if he was at home; she thought of every one before herself, sure enough."
"Well, what, Margery? what are they? Tell me all you can remember."
"Why, Miss Ellen for one thing she used to go into the library every morning, to put it in order, and dust the books and papers and things; in fact, she took the charge of that room entirely: I never went into it at all, unless once or twice in the year, or to wash the windows."
Ellen looked grave; she thought with herself there might be a difficulty in the way of her taking this part of Alice's daily duties; she did not feel that she had the freedom of the library.