"No, but I intend to," answered Bessie. "I'll tell her the first
thing after breakfast to-morrow. I meant to have spoken about it
to-day, but when I got down-stairs she had gone out."

"Was it her day out?"

"No; but her sister is sick, and she was sent for. It was all
right. She left word where she was going with Jane."

"That was very considerate of her," said Liscomb, politely.

"Yes," said Bessie. "Ellen's a splendid woman."

Later on in the evening, about half-past nine, when Mr. Liscomb,
wearied with the excitement of the first irregular day he had known
from boyhood, retired, Thaddeus took occasion to say:

"Bessie, I think you'd better tell Ellen about having breakfast
promptly in the morning to-night, before we go to bed."

"Very well," returned Bessie, "I'll go down now and do it;" and down
she went. In a moment she was back. "The poor thing was so tired,"
she said, "that she went to bed as soon as dinner was cooked, so I
couldn't tell her."

"Why didn't you send up word to her by Jane?"

"Oh, she MUST be asleep by this time!"