"I believe you will grow to be as sober as the rest of them," said she. "How does Mr. John behave?"
Ellen turned so indubitably curious a look upon her at this, that Miss Sophia half-laughed and went on
"Mr. Humphreys was not always as silent and reserved as he is now; I remember him when he was different, though I don't think he was ever much like his son. Do you ever hear about it?"
"About what, Ma'am?"
"Oh, all about his coming to this country, and what brought him to Carra-carra?"
"No, Ma'am."
"My father, you see, had come out long before, but the two families had always been very intimate in England, and it was kept up after he came away. He was a particular friend of an elder brother of Mr. Humphreys; his estate and my grandfather's lay very near each other; and besides, there were other things that drew them to each other he married my aunt, for one. My father made several journeys back and forth in the course of years, and so kept up his attachment to the whole family, you know; and he became very desirous to get Mr. Humphreys over here this Mr. Humphreys, you know. He was the younger brother younger brothers in England have generally little or nothing; but you don't know anything about that, Ellen. He hadn't anything then but his living, and that was a small one; he had some property left him, though, just before he came to America."
"But, Miss Sophia," Ellen hesitated, "are you sure they would like I should hear all this?"
"Why, yes, child! of course they would; everybody knows it. Some things made Mr. Humphreys as willing to leave England about that time as my father was to have him. An excellent situation was offered him in one of the best institutions here, and he came out. That's about let me see I was just twelve years old, and Alice was one year younger. She and I were just like sisters always from that time. We lived near together, and saw each other every day, and our two families were just like one. But they were liked by everybody. Mrs. Humphreys was a very fine person very; oh, very! I never saw any woman I admired more. Her death almost killed her husband: and I think Alice I don't know; there isn't the least sign of delicate health about Mr. Humphreys nor Mr. John not the slightest nor about Mrs. Humphreys either. She was a very fine woman!"
"How long ago did she die?" said Ellen.