well."

Mrs. Powle's fair curls hung on either side of a perplexed face. Mr.
Carlisle stood opposite to her. His eye brightened and fired, but he
made no answer.

"It is only her absurd fanaticism that makes all the trouble."

"There will be no trouble to fear, my dear madam, if that is true."

"Well I asked her the question, and she told me in so many words; and
you know Eleanor. What she says she means."

Mr. Carlisle was silent, and Mrs. Powle went on. He was seldom
loquacious in his consultations with her.

"For all that, she is just as fixed in her ways as a mountain; and I
don't know how to manage her. Eleanor always was a hard child to
manage; and now she has got these fanatical notions in her head she is
worse than ever."

There was a slight perceptible closing in of the fingers of Mr.
Carlisle's hand, but his words were quiet.

"Do not oppose them. Fanaticism opposed grows rigid, and dies a martyr.
Let her alone; these things will all pass away by and by. I am not
afraid of them."

"Then you would let her go on with her absurd Ragged schools and such
flummery? I am positively afraid she will bring something dreadful into
the house, or be insulted herself some day. I do think charity begins
at home. I wish Lord Cushley, or whoever it is, had been in better
business. Such an example of course sets other people wild."

"I will be there myself, and see that no harm comes to Eleanor. I think
I can manage that."

"Eleanor of all girls!" said Mrs. Powle. "That she should be infected
with religious fanaticism! She was just the girl most unlike it that
could possibly be; none of these meek tame spirits, that seem to have
nothing better to do."

"No, you are wrong," said Mr. Carlisle. "It is the enthusiastic
character, that takes everything strongly, that is strong in this as in
all the rest. Her fanaticism will give me no trouble--if it will once
let her be mine!"

"Then you would let her alone?" said Mrs. Powle.

"Let her alone."

"She is spoiling Julia as fast as she can; but I stopped that. Would
you believe it? the minx objected to taking lessons in dancing, because
her sister had taught her that dancing assemblies were not good places
to go to! But I take care that they are not together now. Julia is
completely under her influence."

"So am I," said Mr. Carlisle laughing; "so much that I believe I cannot
bear to hear any more against her than is necessary. I will be with her
at Field-Lane nex