ce and indefinable sweetness which he did
not remember in Eleanor, well as he had loved her before. He loved her
better now. That charm of manner was the very thing to captivate Mr.
Carlisle; he valued it highly; and did not appreciate it the less
because it baffled him.

"He's ten times worse than ever," Mrs. Powle said exultingly to her
husband. "I believe he'd go through fire and water to make sure of her."

"And how's she?" growled the Squire.

"She's playing with him, girl-fashion," said Mrs. Powle chuckling. "She
is using her power."

"What is she using it for?" said the Squire threateningly.

"O to enjoy herself, and make him value her properly. She will come
round by and by."

How was Eleanor? The world had opportunities of judging most of the
time, as far as the outside went; yet there were still a few times of
the day which the world did not intrude upon; and of those there was an
hour before breakfast, when Eleanor was pretty secure against
interruption even from her mother. Mrs. Powle was a late riser. Julia,
who was very much cast away at Brighton and went wandering about like a
rudderless vessel, found out that Eleanor was dressed and using the
sunshine long before anybody else in the house knew the day was begun.
It was a golden discovery. Eleanor was alone, and Julia could have her
to herself a little while at least. Even if Eleanor was bent on reading
or writing, still it was a joy to be near her, to watch her, to smooth
her soft hair, and now and then break her off from other occupations to
have a talk.

"Eleanor," said Julia one day, a little while after these oases in time
had been discovered by her, "what has become of Mr. Rhys? do you know?"

"He has gone," said Eleanor. She was sitting by her open window, a book
open on her lap. She looked out of the window as she spoke.

"Gone? Do you mean he has gone away from England? You don't mean that?"

"Yes."

"To that dreadful place?"

"What dreadful place?"

"Where he was going, you know,--somewhere. Are you sure he has gone,
Eleanor?"

"Yes. I saw it in the paper--the mention of his going--He and two
others."

"And has he gone to that horrible place?"

"Yes, I suppose so. That is where he wished to go."

"I don't see how he could!" said Julia. "How could he! where the people
are so bad!--and leave England?"

"Why Julia, have you forgotten? Don't you know whose servant Mr. Rhys
is?"

"Yes," said Julia mutteringly,--"but I should