man ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man
think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.'"

"Aunt Caxton, I am exactly like such a wave of the sea. And in danger
of being broken to pieces like one."

"Many a one has been," said Mrs Caxton. But it was tenderly said, not
coldly; and the impulse to go on was irresistible. Eleanor changed her
seat for one nearer.

"Aunt Caxton, I want somebody's help dreadfully."

"I see you do."

"Do you see it, ma'am?"

"I think I have seen it ever since you have been here."

"But at the same time, aunty, I do not know how to ask it."

"Those are sometimes the neediest eases. But I hope you will find a
way, my dear."

Eleanor sat silent nevertheless, for some minutes; and then she spoke
in a lowered and changed tone.

"Aunt Caxton, you know the engagements I am under?"

"Yes. I have heard."

"What should a woman do--what is it her duty to do--who finds herself
in every way bound to fulfil such engagements, except--"

"Except what?"

"Except her own heart, ma'am," Eleanor said low and ashamed.

"My dear, you do not mean that your heart was not in these engagements
when you made them?"

"I did not know where it was, aunty. It had nothing to do with them."

"Where is it now?"

"It is not in them, ma'am."

"Eleanor, let us speak plainly. Do you mean that you do not love this
gentleman whom you have promised to marry?"

Eleanor hesitated, covered her face, and hesitated; at last spoke.

"Aunt Caxton, I thought I did;--but I know now I do not; not as I think
I ought;--I do not as he loves me." Eleanor spoke with burning cheeks,
which her aunt could see even in the firelight and though Eleanor's
hand endeavoured to shield them.

"What made you enter into these engagements, my dear?"

"The will and power of two other people, aunt Caxton--and, I am afraid,
now, a little ambition of my own was at work in it. And I liked him
too. It was not a person that I did not like. But I did not know what I
was doing. I liked him, aunt Caxton."

"And now it is a question with you whether you will fulfil these
engagements?"

"Yes ma'am,--because I do not wish to fulfil them. I do not know
whether I ought, or ought not."

Mrs. Caxton was silent in her turn.

"Eleanor,--do you like some one else better?"

"Nobody else likes me better, aunt Caxton--there is nothing of that
kind--"