re!"

Eleanor went to the window, which overlooked a magnificent view of the
harbour. Very oddly, the thought in her mind at that moment was, how
soon an opportunity could be found for her to make the rest of her
voyage. Scarce landed, she wanted to see the means of getting away
again. Her way she saw, over the harbour; where was her conveyance?
While she stood looking, her new-found cousin was considering her; the
erect beautiful figure, in all the simplicity of its dress; the close
little bonnet with chocolate ribbands, the fine grave face under it,
lastly the little hand which rested on the back of the chair, for
Eleanor's sea-glove was off. And a certain awe grew up in Mrs.
Esthwaite's mind.

"Cousin Eleanor," said she, "shall I leave you to dress? Dinner will be
ready presently, and Egbert will be impatient, I know, till you come
down stairs again."

"Thank you. I will be but a few minutes. How beautiful this is! O how
beautiful,--to my eyes that have seen no beauty but sea beauty for so
long. And the air is so good."

"I am glad you like it. Is it prettier than England?"

"Prettier than England!" Eleanor looked round smiling. "Nothing could
be that."

"Well I didn't know. Mr. Esthwaite is always running down England, you
see, and I don't know how much of it he means. I came away when I was
so little, I don't remember anything of course--"

Here came such a shout of "Louisa!--Louisa!"--from below, that Mrs.
Esthwaite laughing was obliged to obey it and go, and Eleanor was left.
There was not much time then for anything; yet a minute Eleanor was
held at the window by the bay with its wooded shores and islands
glittering in the evening light; then she turned from it to pray, for
her heart needed strength, and a great sense of loneliness had suddenly
come over her. Fighting this feeling, and dressing, both eagerly, in a
little time she was ready to descend and encounter Mr. Esthwaite and
dinner.

An encounter it was to Mr. Esthwaite. He had put himself in very
careful order; though that, to do him justice, was an habitual weakness
of his; and he met his guest when she appeared with a bow of profound
recognition and appreciation. Yet Eleanor was only in the simplest of
all white dresses; without lace or embroidery. No matter. The rich hair
was in perfect arrangement; the fine figure and fine carriage in their
unconscious ease were more imposing than anything pretentious can ever
be, even to such persons as M