wn, were pleasant to Eleanor too. It was soothing
repose, in contrast with the whirl of all the rest of her life. Until
the time came when Mr. Carlisle began to join the party. How he did it
Eleanor hardly knew; but he did it. He actually contrived to make one
at those evening entertainments, which admitted but two others; and
with his usual adroitness and skill he made his presence so acceptable
that Eleanor felt it would be quite in vain to attempt to hinder him.
And so her rest was gone, and her opportunity; for she had cherished
fond hopes of winning not only her own way into her father's heart, but
with that, in time, a hearing for truths the Squire had always pushed
out of his path.

Mr. Carlisle was very pleasant; there was no question. He did not at
all usurp her office, nor interfere with it. But when he saw her
getting weary of a parliamentary discussion, or a long discourse on
politics or parties, his hand would gently draw away the paper from
hers and his voice carry on the reading. And his voice was agreeable to
her father; Eleanor saw it; the Squire would turn his head a little
towards the new reader, and an expression of anything but
dissatisfaction steal over his features. Eleanor sat by, half
mortified, half feeling real good-will towards Mr. Carlisle for his
grace and kindness. Or if a game of chess were on foot, Mr. Carlisle
would sit by, he generally declined playing himself, and make the play
very lively with his talk; teaching Eleanor, whose part he invariably
took, and keeping a very general's watch over her as if she had been a
subordinate officer. Mr. Powle liked that too; it made his fighting
better fun; he chuckled a good deal over Mr. Carlisle's play by proxy.
Eleanor could not help it, nor withdraw herself. She knew what brought
Mr. Carlisle there, and she could not avoid him, nor the very easy
familiar terms on which they all sat round the chess table. She was
admirably quiet and cool; but then it is true she felt no unkindness
towards Mr. Carlisle, and sometimes she feared she shewed kindness too
frankly. It was very difficult to help that too. Nevertheless it was
plain the gentleman did not dare trust anything to his present power
over her, for he never tried it. He evidently relied on somewhat else
in his advances. And Eleanor felt that the odds were rather hard
against her. Father and mother, and such a suitor!

She was cut off from her evening refreshment; and the next step was,
that