Fanny kept looking at her with loving facetiousness, and Ellen winced indescribably; still, she did not say anything until after breakfast, when Andrew had gone to work.
Andrew was unusually sober and preoccupied that morning.

When he went out he passed close to Ellen, as she sat at the table, and tilted up her face and kissed her.

"Father's blessin'," he whispered, hoarsely, in her ear.

Ellen nestled against him.

This natural affection, before which she need not fly nor be ashamed, which she had always known, seemed to come before her like a shield against all untried passion.