The Old Helmet, Volume II

sk me how it

t I am happy

erald twinkle

hire melts i

would; she determined she would; when the day came round she found herself drawn with a kind of fascination

feeling inspirited with hope by something she had heard, or feeling at least the comfort that she had taken a step in the right direction. It did not seem to bring her much more comfort. Eleanor

anor's going to class-meeting; she took it as a perfectly natural thing; never asked her anything about it or about her liking i

festival; the mats which had covered some tender plants were long gone. Tulips and hyacinths and polyanthuses and primroses were in a flush of spring glory now; violets breathed everywhere; the snowy-flowered gooseberry and the red-flowered currant, and berberry with its luxuriant yellow bloom, and the almond, and a magnificent magnolia blossoming out in the arms of its evergreen sister, with many another flower less known to Eleanor, made the garden terraces a little wilderness of loveliness and sweetness. Near the house some very fine auriculas

uriculas, aun

. Don't you want to help, Eleanor? You may plant gladiolus bulbs-o

going down to

p to her niece and kissed her, while one hand was full of bulbs and t

he dashed away without making any answer; and all along the way to Plassy she

d not dread the appeal to herself, for Mr. Rhys never asked her any troublesome questions; never anything to which she had to make a troublesome answer; though there might be perhaps matter for thought in it. He had avo

said E

your mind-if you could

fusi

understand-clearly-the fact that

ul

has suffered for sins, the just for the

unders

s on which the Lord will receive you?-forsaking you

see

is any other conditi

N

ou not ac

h a feeling almost of injus

e brought to Jesus-carried by foul men; he was palsied, and lay on a litter or bed, unable to move himself at al

parallel case? She could not tell. She kept silence. M

that is palsied; it is the heart; and the command comes to you, sweet as the invitation,-'Give it to me.' If you are entirely willing, the thing is done. If it be not done, it is because, somewhere, you are not

d away from her, Mr. Rhys broke out with the song, that

t was my

us made

but one

a sin-s

balm i

the woun

ower enou

a sin-si

led her wonderfully to think it. And yet she could not disprove the reasoning. God could not be unfaithful; and if there were not somewhere on her part a failure to meet the conditions, surely peace would have been made before now. And she had thought herself all this while a subject for pity, not for blame; nay, for blame

erself, going and coming, and held no communication with her aunt by the way. But late at night, some time

t you,

ton-it's

ha

o tell you. It's all

t, my dea

. I saw I had nothing to do but to give myself to him, and he would do everything. I see how sins are forgiven th

ummer rain. Mrs. Caxton rose

she said. "I was wait

to be Christ's servant; but now I see that I can be nothing but unworthy, and only he can make me fit for

own mother. Though that is speaking very coolly on the present occasion. Mrs. Powle had n

nusually quiet. Happiness does n

?" said Mrs. Caxton whe

ng up half

a year, aunt Caxton. Did you he

istened to him an

l you what his song s

have fancied there wa

ent again till near the end of breakfast; then Mrs. Caxton said,-"Eleanor, I shall be engage

n-is Wednesday

o to the village, I want you to dress

an get some hawthorn blossoms, I kno

he muir, amang the heather," Eleanor's walk had gone; and her basket was gay with gorse and broom just opening; but from grassy banks on her way she had brought the bright blue speedwell; and clematis and bryony from the hedges, and from under them wild hyacinth and white campion and crane's-bill and primroses; and a

, my dear! Do you not mea

-but my walk did not lie that way. Yes, ma'am, I am going into the garden prese

em here, Eleanor, when they are done, and I will take ca

'am, if y

nd fair human creature busy about them. Eleanor's face was gravely happy; more bright than Mrs. Caxton had ever seen it; very much of kin to the flowers. She watched her a moment, and

re pretentious sisters of the garden. Azaleas and honeysuckles, lilies of the valley, hyacinths and pomponium lilies, with Scotch roses

ting leaves as well as in opening flowers; the breath of Eden seemed to sweep down the valley of Plassy. Ay, there is a

e meeting. It had never happened so before. But now M

and answered, "Wel

tell us ho

me. I saw my mistake, when you told about I the love of Chr

ow is

up again with full eyes,-"I

e her. But she controlled herself, and presently went on; though not daring to look again into Mr. R

o all for me. I wish to be his servant. All is changed. The very hills are changed. I n

upon all nature that far surpasses the glory of the sun. It is a changed world, for those who know that love for the first time! Friends, most of us profe

Eleanor had noticed;-"it does to me. Praise the Lord

happy a

Saviou

d up their t

an never

comfort

in its ear

in entire dependence. As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. It is a simple and humble way, the way along which the heavenly light shines. Do everything for Christ-do everything

testimony of the persons there. Eleanor's heart gave quick sympathy to many utterances, and took home with intent interest the answering counsels and remarks, which in some instances were framed to put a guard a

pleasant time?

oom where we meet is the ple

hink of the ch

believe that is a

tired to go

ll. Who w

her all the afternoon; and Jane is going to si

stay there myself. I

d for you early

w dell between two uprising hills covered with heather; as wild and secluded as it is possible to imagine. The poor woman who liv

needed something done for her constantly. Through all the hours of the darkness Eleanor was kept on the watch or ac

she would say. "It seems slipping away fro

y; and to make the most of those, she was obliged to explain them to Nanny, and go them over and over, and pick them to pieces, and make her rest upon each clause and almost each word of a verse. There were some words that surely Eleanor became wel

ee,-till a bit agone; and now it's a

if only you will trust in it. He shed it for you-to pay your deb

n it; then what was meant by being "in Christ." Towards morning Nanny seemed somewhat soothed and

mountain tops every moment stronger. The dewy scents of the May morning were filling the air with their nameless and numberless tokens of rich nature's bounty. The voice of a cataract, close at hand, made merry down the rocks along with the song of the blackbird, woodpecker and titmouse. And still, as Eleanor stood there and looked and listened, the rush and the stir of sweet life grew more and more; the spring breeze wakened up and floa

brought the pony to take Eleanor home; and a few minutes' ride brought her there. Morning prayers were however done, before Eleanor could refresh herself with cold water and a change o

emark upon the morning he went back to his book. Eleanor sat down, also silent, feeling very much delighted to see him there, and to think that they would have his company at breakfast; but not at all inclined, nor indeed competent, to open a conversation. She looked into the fire and wondered at the turns that had brought about this meeting; wondered over the past year of her life

up from his book, "I was not aware till l

st people would have found ou

her

sh nothing better for any one, in that kin

e talk went on pretty briskly; it was all between the other two and left her on one side; yet it was good enough to listen to it. Eleanor was well satisfied. Mr. Rhys was the principal talker; he was telling Mrs. Caxton of different people and things in the course of his labours;

you lea

think; at least she went to sleep, w

ou nei

ind that at all. It was wort

n so much pain?"

ly; she was u

what

s before her; seein

orted by what

o take it; and hers was gone. I had to get what I could from memory, for I did no

l experience, coming from the heart, often

been shy of uttering unasked in the ear of the dying woman. Was that humility-or something else?

casion; passages of Scripture and hymns; to be brought out when books are not at hand. I was made to learn a great d

hys. "I never could learn anything in that way. Or perha

hen?" said Mrs. Caxt

gly on my feelings, the words seem to engrave themselves in m

Rhys; and again wondered mentally. All that, all those parts of the Bible, he had not set himself

s woman?" Mr.

a straight line with it, from here. Do not go there this morning-you want rest, and it is

ake me into

t," said Mrs.

thes my nerves, the noiseless order of everything. Do you know that wonderful cheese-house, where they stand in ranks li

xton. "It is too late for the dairy to-day. You

to make flowers grow in the Lord's garden-wherever I

ctice. Eleanor looked at her plate with her heart burning. In her old fancy for studying, or at least reading, hands, she had noticed too in her glance the hand on which the head rested; and with surprise. It was almost a feminine hand in make, with long slim fingers; white withal, and beautifully cared for. Certain refinements were clearly necessary to this man, who was ready to plunge himself into a country of savages nevertheless, where all the refinement would be his own. To some natures it would be easier to part with a

y; planting and removing and consulting; in real garden work; yet it was manifest their minds had also much more in common, in matters of greater interest; they stood and talked for long intervals when the flowers were forgotten. They were very near each other, those two, evide

kfast. Only to see him and hear him talk to others, only the tones of his voice, brought up to her everything that was good and strong and pure and happy. He did not seem inclined to advance at all upon their Wiglands acquaintance. He made no allusion to i