"Well," said he, "I think two will be better. Let us have another off the same piece, Mr. Shopman."
"But I am afraid Mamma won't like it, Sir," said Ellen, gently.
"Pooh, pooh," said he, "your mother has nothing to do with this; this is my affair." He paid for it accordingly. "Now, Miss Ellen," said he, when they left the store, "have you got anything in the shape of a good warm winter bonnet? for it's precious cold up there in Thirlwall; your pasteboard things won't do; if you don't take good care of your ears, you will lose them some fine frosty day. You must quilt and pad, and all sorts of things, to keep alive and comfortable. So you haven't a hood, eh? Do you think you and I could make out to choose one that your mother would think wasn't quite a fright! Come this way, and let us see. If she don't like it, she can give it away, you know."
He led the delighted Ellen into a milliner's shop, and after turning over a great many different articles chose her a nice warm hood, or quilted bonnet. It was of dark blue silk, well made and pretty. He saw with great satisfaction that it fitted Ellen well, and would protect her ears nicely; and having paid for it, and ordered it home, he and Ellen sallied forth into the street again. But he wouldn't let her thank him. "It is just the very thing I wanted, Sir," said Ellen; "Mamma was speaking about it the other day, and she did not see how I was ever to get one, because she did not feel at all able to go out, and I could not get one myself; I know she'll like it very much."
"Would you rather have something for yourself or your mother, Ellen, if you could choose, and have but one?"
"Oh, for Mamma, Sir," said Ellen "a great deal!"
"Come in here," said he; "let us see if we can find anything she would like."
It was a grocery store. After looking about a little, the old gentleman ordered sundry pounds of figs and white grapes to be packed up in papers; and being now very near home, he took one parcel and Ellen the other, till they came to the door of Green's Hotel, where he committed both to her care.
"No," said he, "I can't this time I must go home to dinner."
"And shan't I see you any more, Sir?" said Ellen, a shade coming over her face, which a minute before had been quite joyous.