That
evening's entry in her diary was--
"My first attempt at asserting myself a failure. Decided that managing a
house is not my vocation."
In spite of all these difficulties, however, the time passed very
quickly, and Ella had the happiness of feeling that she was really
useful. As Christmastide approached, a fierce struggle went on in her
mind; she had never thought of being away from home on Christmas Day,
and it would be very lonely and dull at Hapsleigh, so different from the
merry party who always met at home on that day; but her mother had
written that she must judge for herself if it would be right to leave,
and when she thought of her aunt, who was beginning to look to her for
entertainment and company, and of the quarrels certain to arise between
the other members of the household, her mind was soon made up, and,
although with a very heavy heart, she wrote that she thought she must
stay.
The answer came promptly, and was full of praise and warm encouragement,
which comforted and helped her.
"If your happiness cannot be with us, my child," her mother wrote,
"remember that we celebrate the season when our Lord left His Father and
His home to bring happiness to mankind, and you are treading closely in
His footsteps just now.
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