on the part of
the mild and right-minded Eleanor; but the quivering lip, the swimming
upraised eye, the voice that faltered and failed in its endeavour to
articulate her acquiescence to the required sacrifice--this voiceless
eloquence went to the father's heart, and his tears mingled with hers as
he clasped her to his breast, inwardly ejaculating, almost in the words
of the prophet-king--"Would to God I could suffer alone for thee, my
child! _my child!_" For a while the hopeful tenderness of woman's nature
delayed Eleanor's final decision, speciously whispering to her heart the
possible blessedness of converting darkness into light, by the influence
of holy example, and love's unwearying persuasiveness. But the parental
guardian was near, to suggest to her the dangerous fallacy of that fond
illusion, and Eleanor's love, though true and tender as ever woman felt,
was not the blinding, all-engrossing passion "which refuses to hear the
voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely." She wept and spoke not,
but retired to her chamber, and for that day was seen no more; but the
next morning brought her to her parents' feet, with a colourless cheek
indeed, but a look of such heavenly composure, as seemed reflected from
the source of light to which she had resorted in her hour of mental
darkness and distress; and though she hid her face on her mother's lap,
and her soft voice trembled in uttering the decisive words, they were
spoken--the renunciation was made--and the sacrifice complete. How dear
it cost her, was known only to God and her own heart; for, having
renounced (as it then seemed to her) every view of earthly happiness for
herself, she devoted herself the more assiduously to promote that of her
parents and her brother, and of every living creature within the sphere
of her benign influence, till at last, and by insensible degrees, she
became blest in the consciousness of blessing, and never for one moment
of her after life did she repent the act of that hour, the sharp agony
of which had left behind it "Peace which passeth understanding." But
from thenceforth the lot of Eleanor Devereux was one of fixed celibacy.
Hers were not transferable affections; and however, for her sake, the
fond parents might have wished it otherwise, they could ill resist the
pleading of the dutiful child, who only prayed to be allowed to cleave
to them, and them only, and to her dear brother, in this life, as she
hoped to be reunited to them