"Can you sing nothing but hymns?" asked Lady Keith.
"Yes, Ma'am," said Ellen, with some humour twinkling about her eyes and mouth, "I can sing 'Hail Columbia!' "
"Absurd!" said Lady Keith.
"Why, Ellen," said her uncle, laughing, "I did not know you could be so stubborn; I thought you were made up of gentleness and mildness. Let me have a good look at you there's not much stubbornness in those eyes," he said, fondly.
"I hope you will never salute my ears with your American ditty," said Lady Keith.
"Tut, tut," said Mr. Lindsay, "she shall sing what she pleases, and the more the better."
"She has a very sweet voice," said her grandmother.
"Yes, in speaking, I know; I have not heard it tried otherwise; and very nice English it turns out. Where did you get your English, Ellen?"
"From my brother," said Ellen, with a smile of pleasure.
Mr. Lindsay's brow rather clouded.