"But as she can't jump up and run after me, I think I shall be quite safe if I don't go within arm's-length of her sofa." "She's pow'ful cross," repeated Aunt Phillis: "she done gone call dis chile up time an' again fru de night; an' when I ax her, 'Whar yo' misery at ?' she say, 'In my ankle, ob c'ose, yo' ole fool you! Cayn't yo' hab nuff sense to change de dressin' ?'" "Who is that has been so polite and complimentary to you, Aunt Phillis ?" cried a merry voice in their rear.
Ella was descending the stairway at whose foot they stood, as they perceived, on turning at the sound of her voice.
"Good-morning, cousin: how bright and well you are looking!" said Zoe.
"Just as I feel.

And how are you, Mrs.Travilla?
I trust you did not spend the night in crying over Ned's absence ?" was the gay rejoinder.
"No, not nearly all of it," returned Zoe, catching her spirit of fun.
"Mawnin', Miss Ella," said the old nurse, dropping a courtesy.

"'Twas de lady what sprain her foot yisteday I was talkin' bout to Miss Zoe." "Ah! how is she ?" "I doan' t'ink she gwine die dis day, Miss Ella," laughed the nurse, "she so pow'ful cross; and dey do say folks is dat way when dey's gittin' bettah." "Yes, I have always heard it was a hopeful sign, if not an agreeable one," Ella remarked, "Was that the breakfast-bell I heard just now ?" "Yes," said Zoe.

"I hope you feel ready to do justice to your meal ?" As they seated themselves at the table, Zoe, glancing toward Edward's vacant chair, remarked, with a sigh, that it seemed very lonely to sit down without him.
"Well, now," said Ella, "I think it's quite nice to take a meal occasionally without the presence of anybody of the masculine gender." "Perhaps that is because you have never been married," said Zoe.
"Perhaps so," returned her cousin, laughing; "yet I don't think that can be all that ails me, for I have heard married women express the same opinion quite frequently.

What shall we do with ourselves to-day, Zoe?
I've no notion of devoting myself exclusively to Miss Deane's entertainment, especially if she is really as cross as reported." "No, indeed! I couldn't bear to let you, even if you were willing," replied Zoe with decision.