ere going at once to Brighton, the letter said; Mrs. Powle
wished Eleanor to lose no time, in order that her wardrobe might be
properly cared for. Thomas was sent with the letter, and her mother
desired that Eleanor would immediately on the receipt of it, "without
an hour's delay," set off to come home with him. Reasons for this
sudden proceeding there were none given; and it came with the
suddenness of a hurricane upon Eleanor. Up to this time there had been
no intimation of her mother's wish to have her at home again ever; an
interval of several weeks had elapsed since any letters; now Mrs. Powle
said "she had been gone long enough," and they all wanted her, and must
have her at once to go to Brighton. So suddenly affectionate?

Eleanor stood looking at her letter some time after she had ceased to
read it, with a face that shewed turmoil. Mrs. Caxton came up to her.
Eleanor dropped the letter in her hand, but her eye avoided her aunt's.

"What is all this haste, Eleanor?" Mrs. Caxton said gravely.

"I don't know, ma'am."

"At any rate, my child, you cannot leave me to-night. It is too late."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Does your mother assign no reason for this sudden demand of you? She
gives me none."

"She gives me none, ma'am."

"Eleanor--"

It brought Eleanor's eye up, and that brought her head down on Mrs.
Caxton's shoulder. Her aunt clasped her tenderly for a moment, and then
said,

"Had you not better see your mother's servant, my dear, and give your
orders?--and then we will have tea."

Eleanor steadied herself immediately; went out and had an interview
with old Thomas, which however brought her no enlightenment; made her
arrangements with him, and returned to her aunt. Mrs. Caxton ordered
tea; they would not wait for Mr. Rhys any longer. The aunt and niece
sat down to the table behind the honeysuckle drapery of the pillars;
the sunlight had left the landscape; the breath of the flowers floated
up cool and sweet from the terraced garden and waved about them with
every stir of the long rose and honeysuckle sprays. Eleanor sat by the
table and looked out. Mrs. Caxton poured out the tea and looked at her.

"Aren't you going to take some strawberries, my love?"

"Shall I give you some, aunt Caxton?"

"And yourself, my dear."

She watched while Eleanor slowly broke up the heath and ivy adornment
of the strawberry dish, and carefully afterwards replaced the sprays
and leaves she had dislodged. It is no harm