Presently Margery came in again, stopping this time at the table, which Mr. John had pushed to the far side of the room, to get away from the fire.
"I beg your pardon, Sir," she said; "I am ashamed to be so troublesome but this Irish body, this Anthony Fox, has begged me, and I didn't know how to refuse him, to come in and ask for a sheet of paper and a pen for him, Sir he wants to copy a letter if Mr. John would be so good; a quill pen, Sir, if you please; he cannot write with any other."
"No," said John, coolly. "Ellen will do it."
Margery looked in some doubt from the table to the sofa, but Ellen instantly rose up, and with a burning cheek came forward and took the paper from the hand where Margery still held it.
"Ask him to wait a little while, Margery," she, said hurriedly; "I'll do it as soon as I can tell him in half an hour."
It was not a very easy nor quick job. Ellen worked at it patiently, and finished it well by the end of the half-hour; though with a burning cheek still; and a dimness over her eyes frequently obliged her to stop till she could clear them. It was done, and she carried it out to the kitchen herself.
The poor man's thanks were very warm; but that was not what Ellen wanted. She could not rest till she had got another word from her brother. He was busy; she dared not speak to him; she sat fidgeting and uneasy in the corner of the sofa till it was time to get ready for riding. She had plenty of time to make up her mind about the right and the wrong of her own conduct.
During the ride he was just as usual, and she began to think he did not mean to say anything more on the matter. Pleasant talk and pleasant exercise had almost driven it out of her head, when as they were walking their horses over a level place, he suddenly began
"By-the-bye, you are too busy, Ellie," said he. "Which of your studies shall we cut off?"
"Please, Mr. John," said Ellen, blushing, "don't say anything about that! I was not studying at all I was just amusing myself with a book I was only selfish and lazy."