e's wound had healed very rapidly.
And moreover she had not given him credit for finding any attraction in
that house, beyond her own personal presence in it. However, she
reflected that Mr. Carlisle was busy in politics, and perhaps
cultivated her father. They went in again, to take up the subject of
Brighton.

And what followed? Muslins, flowers, laces, bonnets and ribbands. They
were very irksome days to Eleanor, that were spent in getting ready for
Brighton; and the thought of the calm purity of Plassy with its
different occupations sometimes came over her and for the moment
unnerved her hands for the finery they had to handle. Once Eleanor took
a long rambling ride alone on her old pony; she did not try it again.
Business and bustle was better, at least was less painful, than such a
time for thinking and feeling. So the dresses were made, and they went
to Brighton.

CHAPTER IV.

AT A WATERING-PLACE.

"In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!"

Eleanor was at once plunged into a whirl of engagements, with
acquaintances new and old. And the former class multiplied very
rapidly. Mrs. Powle's fair curls hung on either side of her face with
almost their full measure of complacency, as she saw and beheld her
daughter's successful attractions. It was true. Eleanor was found to
have something unique about her; some said it was her beauty, some said
it was her manners; some insisted it was neither, but had a deeper
origin; at any rate she was fresh. Something out of the common line and
that piqued curiosity, was delightful; and in despite of her very
moderate worldly advantages, compared with many others who were there,
Eleanor Powle seemed likely to become in a little while the belle of
Brighton. Certain rumours which were afloat no doubt facilitated and
expedited this progress of things. Happily Eleanor did not hear them.

The rush of engagements and whirl of society at first was very wearying
and painful to her. No heart had Eleanor to give to it. Only by putting
a force upon herself, to please her father and mother, she managed to
enter with some spirit into the amusements going forward, in which she
was expected to take an active part. Perhaps this very fact had
something to do with the noble and sweet disengagedness of manner which
marked her unlike those about her, in a world where self-interest of
some sort is