"You should have one just like him, Ellen," said she with her sharp little laugh. "Then you wouldn't be so discontented."
"It isn't a subject to be jested about, Millie," said Grandfather gravely. But he looked at the two young people with startled eyes. He remembered that Amos had once defended Ellen; he remembered that he had seemed to have for some time a burden on his mind. Alas, for the restored Kloster with its monastic orders, its brethren and its holy spiritual virgins, if Amos should go the way of all the world! Silence followed Grandfather's reproof, and silence spread. Like graven images Grandfather and Millie and Matthew sat in their chairs, and like graven images Ellen and Amos stood by the door.
"I shall put corn in the east field next summer," said Matthew after a long pause.
"So!" said Grandfather and returned to his alarmed speculation.
Millie's mischievous eyes went round and round the circle. They signaled a laughing message to Matthew, they gazed with intense amusement at Amos and Ellen. Ellen's blood raced through her veins and angry thoughts through her mind. It seemed to her that she was on fire. Amos stood with his eyes upon the floor, all the machinery of thought paralyzed. Millie saw guilt written upon them both.
"Grandfather," she began again mischievously; but before she could go on Matthew stopped her with the first remark which came into his mind. Even Ellen's comment upon the baby had not been so unfortunately chosen.
"I have engaged Umbesheiden to cut the trees."
Ellen turned upon him swiftly, her eyes flashing.
"They are no more yours than mine. I have Grandfather's permission, and it's only what any far-sighted person would do. It will in the end be very profitable to you, as well as to me."
Ellen took a step forward. Here was the last of heaped-up injuries! Considering the turmoil of anger and grief within, she spoke quietly.
"I've decided that unless you and Grandfather are willing for me to go to college at once, I'm going to leave home altogether."
"Where are you going, Ellen?" Matthew asked gently. He knew that he had postponed too long telling his plans, but Ellen made everything hard.
"I'm going to live with Mrs. Sassaman at her sister's and earn my living."