But there! Ellen always had had her own notions about everything under the sun.

Ellen was a woman who thought for herself--a clever woman, not an everyday woman by any manner of means.
While these thoughts were going disconnectedly through his mind, Bunting was breaking four eggs into a basin.

He was going to give Ellen a nice little surprise--to cook an omelette as a French chef had once taught him to do, years and years ago.

He didn't know how she would take his doing such a thing after what she had said; but never mind, she would enjoy the omelette when done.

Ellen hadn't been eating her food properly of late.
And when he went up again, his wife, to his relief, and, it must be admitted, to his surprise, took it very well.