ELLEN DUNCAN AND OLD JUDITH. 289 



turned to watch her retreating footsteps. The 

 happy girl continued on her way, the joyous smile 

 with which she had addressed her lover still played 

 on her full red lip as she passed. A slight curtsey 

 to Dr. Hastings, was the only greeting as she hur- 

 ried on, for she was evidently confused and desi- 

 rous of avoiding interrogation. ' That is Ellen 

 ' Duncan,' said the doctor, ' and God bless her ; 

 ' a better girl never breathed, she Is very lovely 

 ' too ; see her now.' They turned, and saw that 

 she had lightly sprung across the chasm, and 

 now with one arm thrown over the neck of her 

 aged relative, she was imprinting a kiss on her 

 wrinkled cheek. She might be (from the attitude 

 she had assumed) endeavouring to infuse some of 

 her own bright imaginings, and joyous tone of life 

 into the worn out spirit of her companion. They 

 could not tell, but the sight of the fair girl was 

 so interesting, that it was some minutes before they 

 resumed their walk. 



4 Old Judith wronged her,' said the doctor, 

 musing, ' and it is among the weaknesses of the 

 * aged to imagine themselves neglected by those 

 ' they love. And old Judith does love that poor 

 ' child ; it were hard if she did not, for she has 

 ' resolved never to marry her lover till the decease 

 4 of her poor grandmother.' * At the time,' con- 

 tinued the doctor, ' when her reason first showed 

 ' symptoms of giving way, I had been visiting her, 

 o 



