The Old Helmet, Volume II

mirth! but I

dark, and the dr

Eleanor's waist, and sometimes lay her head on her shoulder; and so listen to the reading and join in the talking. The talks were always finished with prayer; and at

y learning to dance?" was a questio

t m

l go to dancing sc

r! What, at

er we go from here. So mamma

remained

Julia went on. "What work is that to

you for those," the elde

don't you

go sometimes-I

? Why don't you?

or, pointing to th

of the Lord Jesus; giving thanks to God

ce at such places, except to stand by and say by my

other people enjo

es as much fun in one good scamper over the moor. Dear old moor! I w

makes you g

exed if I did not. I mean to get

nk you will

silent, an

it will make me graceful; and I think I am as graceful as other people now-as most o

iled, sobe

t I go to dan

ou wish n

ou think i

must always honour every wish of hers, except you thought th

e feeling and earnestness on both sides; and the

m the old times. Julia would have been much mystified by the brightness and life and spirit Eleanor shewed in company, and in his company especially; which her little sister did not see in their private intercourse alone. Nevertheless, Mr. Carlisle's passion was rather stimulated by difficulty than fed by hope; though hope lived high sometimes. All that Eleanor gave him she gave shim readily, and as readily gave to others; she gave coolly too,

good, however, was true; the Squire was very unlike his hearty, boisterous, independent self. He moped, and he suffered too. Eleanor could not help thinking he would have suffered less, as he certainly would have moped less, at home; and an u

ounselled acquiescence; and Mrs. Powle with no very good grace acquiesced; for though a woman, she did not like to be foiled. Eleanor gained one point only; she was not obliged to go where she could not go with a good conscience. She did not thereby get her time to herself. London has many ways of spending time; nice ways too; and in one and another of these Eleanor found hers all

s as a consequence; he delighted to have Eleanor come and sit with him and read to him after dinner. She escaped many an engagement by that means. In vain

ke, for one hour in the twenty-four. You may haul her about the rest of the time-b

was that he found himself unable for what he liked better. Strength and health were both failing; he was often suffering; drives in the park wearied him almost as much as sitting alone in his room; he swore at them for the stupidest entertainment man ever pleased himself with. What he did with the lonely hours he spent entirely by himself, nobody knew; Eleanor knew that he was rejoiced every time to see her come in. His eye brightened when she opened the door, and he settled himself in his easy chair to have a good time; and then even the long columns of the newspaper, read from one end to the other, up and down, were pleasant to Eleanor too. It wa

d-will towards Mr. Carlisle for his grace and kindness. Or if a game of chess were on foot, Mr. Carlisle would sit by, he generally declined playing himself, and make the play very lively with his talk; teaching Eleanor, whose part he invariably took, and keeping a very general's watch over her as if she had been a subordinate officer. Mr. Powle liked that too; it made his fighting better fun; he chuckled a good deal over Mr. Carlisle's play by proxy. Eleanor could not help it, nor withdraw herself. She knew what brought Mr. Carlisle there, and she could n

use of it when attained. It seemed to Mrs. Powle little less than a judgment upon her, to have the second of her daughters holding such language; it was traced to Eleanor's influence of course; and further and diligent questioning brought out the fact of the sisters' daily studies in company. They should happen no more, Mrs. Powle immediately decided. Julia was forbidden to go to her sister's room for such purposes; and to make matters sure she was provided with other and abundant occupation to keep her engaged at the da

that Eleanor is the only sensible girl in London?

be found with him was his pursuit of her. That was steady and incessant; yet at the same time so brotherly and well-bred in manner that Eleanor sometimes feared she gave him unconsciously too much encouragement. Feeling really grateful to him, it was a little hard not to shew it. For although Mr. Carlisle was the cause of her trouble, he was a

ing as she heard somebody come in-"Eleanor! is that you? come here. Where have you been?

and sweet that it was no wonder Mr. Carlisle's eyes rested on her as on a new object of

too late. Make haste and get your

than she is," remarked the

ill not go to-night.

o to church, this winter? Go and get ready. What Mr. Carlisle

f she is tired," said M

r sat

hen, child, to tire yo

can you have

mma," said Elea

o you. Well, what part of London have you been attacking to-day? I should think the b

ool, mamma-S

nt there th

was an

as saying, How long would you let this go on?

s this, mistre

here it is, I am afraid

Ragged

oes that mean, Eleanor?

f them children; and perhaps I should not say they are ragged; for though some of them are,

to do, than to go and teach such a set! Why you ou

ve sev

icem

, ma

not safe wi

e with the

ink of such doings?" said Mrs

said quietly. "I hope Elean

ng better than that to do, of

I do not t

learn?" Mr. Ca

teach them is the truths of the Bible. They never heard

they will he

sure t

remem

eyes, as she answered, "I

ng?" said Mrs. Powle. "You might catch your death of

d for me. I am not going to offer mine needlessly. But I d

ethodist!" said Mrs.

le. He

our school me

terrifying mamma

her in case she fain

ld-Lane school

ne? Won't you

never hear of it? It was in a wretched place in Saffron Hill at

he

where Cler

but Mr. Carlisle looked enlightened. His face changed a

one of the worst part

and the school used to be. It

s a very improper place for you to be; and I hope

king a little anxious,

le mar

e for you, Ele

with a smile that had a curious brigh

re; but that is no reason why you should be allowed to go

. I would not fail of going for anything in the world." Sh

h you? or do

homas is wit

get into such a

in such a work than there are hands for. I know

ppose?" said Mrs.

mamma; the othe

you teac

s of boys." Eleanor's sm

m, the whole thing. Why shouldn't those boys go to the regular schools, instead o

of boys they are, mamma;

earned some things too

lis

with the whole thing. If they are not good boys, the House of Corr

ondon who were not good boys, forbade him to give an affirmative answer; his character as

d schools. I confess to a selfish motive in my request-I have a desire to go there myself and see

ry unwise and obstinate man, who

suppose you must do as you please. To me the effect

ace was so unsatisfactory that Mrs. Powle gave u

se me." And she left the room to change her dress. But whe

ding before her, "may I go with you

would not know what to

lis

u thin

eople who you think ought to be fined-and impriso

think ought to be

y a differe

at would

died for them. And I would shew them tha

, but there was a

eaven's sak

an or boy very severely for stealing, wh

the rest of the w

had a word of kindness-never were brought under a good influence,-until t

ay

only a little older than he. They had often no other way of getting food but stealing it. The father and mother were both of them drunkards and swallowed up everything in liquor. This little fellow used to come to the morning school, which was held every day, without any breakfast; many a time. Barefooted, over the cold s

eel, but instantly resumed his lo

s supported himself respectably ever since, and

anaged it? I do not understand d

went to school. In the end of the day he went out with twelve boxes of matches and hawked them about until they were disposed of. That gave him threepence for the next da

ondon does. Is not this a strang

ke-but not

of these boys in these schools? w

instance out of many, ma

d to be generous an

ave her go on talking; perhaps Eleanor divined t

ust provided for the emigration to Australia

owle another o

and most miserable condition; and they are going out with every prospect of respectabilit

ll me

y, to wander where he could, he led a life of such utter wretchedness, that at length he determined to steal for himself, and to go home no more. Then came years of struggling vagrancy-during which, Mr. Carlisle, the prison was his pleasantest home an

id Mr. Carlisle, looking into the lustrous

do you

e to guess-since

to one of the city missionaries and told him o

y what eart

ery of t

ot teach him

to him. The thief answered that

he House of Commons," said Mr. Carlisle, taking t

told to me, the state to which squalor, starvation, and all that goes with it, had brought the child. He went to school; and two years after was well, heal

say anything against

poken in vain," sa

s to it, held it still, too firmly for E

ant me one l

hout asking,

her hand again, not r

you to Field-L

uld you

care o

xceedingly bored; finding yourself w

hat interests you wi

l you love the Master I do. Not till his service is your delight, as it i

nd then came to her side again, and w

not satisfied to have yo

I am always

Have you never

ev

y ugly sort of crowd s

somet

er feel

d you like a cup of tea

her eyes, in which certainly there lay no lurking sh

r side as usual, and he will have you go to your absurd school as you want to do. H

as in misery and ignorance and crime, su

et, I suppose; or are th

in it yet-m

eople you go! Well, I w

e you molested. He mu

it, mamma?" Eleanor aske

t such a fool as not to know what he i

came up in El

by my wis

to say so. Don't yo

h-if only he would b

ike any one else better? He is as j

u know yourself that I see no one that I favour more than I do Mr. Ca

better? tell me that. I just

there is not a person out of my own family whom I like so well;-but

t question answere