"How do I like her?" said Ellen again; "how can I tell how I shall like her? I haven't lived with her but a week yet."
"You might just as well ha' spoke out," said the other somewhat scornfully. "Do you think I don't know you half hate her already? and it'll be whole hating in another week more. When I first heard you'd come, I guessed you'd have a sweet time with her."
"Oh, don't ask me why," said the other impatiently, "when you know as well as I do. Every soul that speaks of you says, 'poor child,' and 'I'm glad I ain't her.' You needn't try to come cunning over me. I shall be too much for you, I tell you."
"I don't know what you mean," said Ellen.
"Oh no, I suppose you don't," said the other in the same tone; "of course you don't; I suppose you don't know whether your tongue is your own or somebody's else. You think Miss Fortune is an angel, and so do I; to be sure she is!"
Not very well pleased with this kind of talk, Ellen walked on for a while in grave silence. Her companion meantime recollected herself; when she spoke again it was with an altered tone.
"I don't like him at all," said Ellen, reddening.
"Don't you?" said the other, surprised, "why, everybody likes him. What don't you like him for?"
"Ain't Miss Fortune queer to live in the way she does?"
"Why, without any help--doing all her own work, and living all alone, when she's so rich as she is."
"Rich! I guess she is! she's one of the very best farms in the country, and money enough to have a dozen help, if she wanted 'em. Van Brunt takes care of the farm, you know."
"Why, yes, of course he does! didn't you know that? what did you think he was at your house all the time for?"
"I am sure I don't know," said Ellen. "And are those Aunt Fortune's oxen that he drives?"
"To be sure they are. Well, I do think you _are_ green, to have been there all this time and not found that out. Mr. Van Brunt does just what he pleases over the whole farm, though; hires what help he wants, manages everything; and then he has his share of all that comes off it. I tell you what--you'd better make friends with Van Brunt, for if anybody can help you when your aunt gets one of her ugly fits, it's him; she don't care to meddle with him much."