. The New England magazine . Ellen bore the scrutiny well. people smiled, and Miss Munn introducedthem. How do you do? said Ellen, hold-ing out her small brown hand. I haveheard Miss Munn speak of you so often,I feel as if I already knew you. You do, dont you? laughed Harry. Miss Munn gasped. I — I dont think you heard me speak ^ speak much of him, Ellen; therehas not been much time, you know. Imsure I did not say more than — than wasnecessary ! Ellen laughed aloud. You certainly mentioned him, youknow, she said. Why dont we goback to the garden, she continuedbriskly. Its much pleasanter. We 2
. The New England magazine . Ellen bore the scrutiny well. people smiled, and Miss Munn introducedthem. How do you do? said Ellen, hold-ing out her small brown hand. I haveheard Miss Munn speak of you so often,I feel as if I already knew you. You do, dont you? laughed Harry. Miss Munn gasped. I — I dont think you heard me speak ^ speak much of him, Ellen; therehas not been much time, you know. Imsure I did not say more than — than wasnecessary ! Ellen laughed aloud. You certainly mentioned him, youknow, she said. Why dont we goback to the garden, she continuedbriskly. Its much pleasanter. We 218 A STEPMOTHER ELECT. can sit on the stoop and smell the flow-ers. She was away, and finished her sen-tence from the sunken stone-step. In amoment Harry was sitting beside seemed to be no place for MissMunn but the straight-backed chair just. inside the doorway. She drew the chairas far as possible from its corner, evenputting the front legs on the threshold,and sat, a silent guardian, while the low-toned conversation went on, interruptedeach minute by a gay laugh. She wouldbend forward now and then, striving toutter the word of remonstrance, whichalways died on her lips, while she feltthat one by one the hopes she had cher-ished in regard to Ellen were slippingfrom her. How could the child of herfather be so thoughtless? Harry stayed until nine, when, know- ing Miss Munns habits, he went away,saying a bright good-night to her andwearing a flower which Ellen herself hadplucked for him. Miss Munn locked the door with un-usual precision, then almost silently wentupstairs with her new charge. She was sure some ex-postulation was due; butuntil she could think andpray over it she would saynothing. If Miss Munn could haveseen the way in which thegirl threw her crumpleddress upon the chair, shewould not even have waitedto think a
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