The Old Helmet, Volume II

day the iron wh

fe down fro

souls, which God

lindly in

dy in the world she likes better

rplexed face. Mr. Carlisle stood opposite to her. H

rd fanaticism that m

ble to fear, my dear m

he told me in so many words; and you

Powle went on. He was seldom loqua

know how to manage her. Eleanor always was a hard child to manage; and no

rceptible closing in

d, but his wor

, and dies a martyr. Let her alone; these things wi

ring something dreadful into the house, or be insulted herself some day. I do think charity begins at home. I wis

, and see that no harm

manage

ligious fanaticism! She was just the girl most unlike it that could possibly

that takes everything strongly, that is strong in this as in all the rest

let her alone?"

her a

to taking lessons in dancing, because her sister had taught her that dancing assemblies were not good p

lieve I cannot bear to hear any more against her than is

inion that Eleanor ought to be let alone. Mr. Carlisle had not seen such a view of London in his life before; he had not been in such a district of crime and wretchedness; or if by chance he had touched upon it, he had made a principle of no

nd of wonder Mr. Carlisle's eye went from one to another to note the individual varieties of the general character; and as it took in the details, wandered horror-stricken, from the nameless dirt and shapeless rags which covered the person, to the wild or stupid or cunning or devilish expression of vice in the face. Beyond description, both. There were many there who had never slept in a bed in their lives; many who never had their clothes off from one month's end to another; the very large proportion lived day and night by a course of wickedness. There they were gathered now, these wretches, eight or ten in a form, listening with more or less of interest to the instructions of their teachers who sat before them; and many, Mr. Carlisle saw, were shewing deep interest in face and manner. Others were full of mischief, and shewed that too. And others, who were interested, were yet also restless; and would manifest it by the o

re recalled the image of Eleanor; he had seen her once in her school trim, it is true, but that signified nothing. He had seen her only, not her dress. It was only by a careful scrutiny that he was able to satisfy himself which bonnet and which outline of a cloak was Eleanor's. But once his attention h

atholic, for penance, or to work out good deeds to earn heaven like a philanthropist? While he pondered the matter, in increasing restlessness, mind and body helping each other; for the atmosphere of the room was heavy and stifling from the foul human beings congregated there, and it must require a very strong motive in anybody to be there at all; he could hardly bear it himself; an incident occurred which gave a little variety to his thoughts. As he stood in the alley, leaning on the end of a form where no one sat, a boy came in and passed him; brushing so near that Mr. Carlisle involuntarily shrank back. Such a looking fellow-creature he had never seen until that day. Mr. Carlisle had lived in the other half of the world. This was a half-grown boy, inexpressibly forlorn in his rags and wretchedness. An old coat hung about him, much too large and long, that yet did not hide a great rent in his trowsers which shewed that the

r only love begets love. The lesson went on, but the gentleman stood in a maze till it was finished. The notes of Eleanor's voice in the closing hymn, which he was su

er; so Mr. Carlisle bore the delay with what patience he could; which in that stifling atmosphere was not much. How could Ele

you were in the

Thomas is not here-Mrs.

e than Thomas's place; for he not only put Eleanor in a carriage, but

o?" was his f

y we

st however she gave him a view of it. The hidden sweetness was there too; he could not conceive what made her look so happy. Yet the look was at once too frank and too deep for his personal vanity to get any foo

ld-Lane generally hav

little-generall

t den, looking as you do, I confess is an incompre

ed it was but the outbreaking of the light he had s

ng there p

n to evade

e," said Eleanor. "Perhaps you

hind you and y

n the lesson was partly done-midway in the time-

ng, I do not understand how pleasure can be con

t boy has been a most noto

t I should h

e that he had w

ved how imperfec

it has touched water, except when his lips touched it

at

mmunity of guilt. If they will be brought to wash, it is a sign that the bond is broken-that they are willing to be out of

eyes expressed so much gladness that it quite went beyond Mr.

er one question, which puzzles

not li

ou. What take

estioner. "They want help. You must have seen, there are none too many to take care of th

go in th

ot hit

is worth to go Sundays. I met several companies of m

es

ere, Eleanor, thro

ve no

t; but will you a

s, because I love them. And if you ask me why I love them,-I know that the Lord Jesus loves them; and he

there should be this class of peopl

xercise of their free agency, even though others as well as themselves suffer by it. I suppose, if those a little a

er you would m

-I do not believe in any ra

is, what?-

ou would that others

t reform the reformers f

now

believe it, you do not go to

uld be, to make

gency; but I think I shall plunge into the question of reform, Eleanor. Speakin

e only as it were begin

a disorderly set of scholars in my life before. How do you find a

lts, and leaping over the forms, and shouts and catcalls, and all manner of uproarious

tial reformation I eve

Carl

t community of dirt is. But there are plenty of statistics, if you want tho

ew them to m

, but to-morrow night, Mr.

you are ve

ictness; but Sunday is too g

shilling of her old arch smile, which

n or administered under her sceptre, that you would not have fulfilled to the letter-even down to the regulations that

nd Mr. Carlisle swallowed t

g to turn preacher too

u, dear, and put myself

what you pl

yet find herself entangled before she was aware. And Mr. Carlisle too had a sober sense that Eleanor's religious character was not of a kind to exhale, like a volatile oil, under the sun of prosperity or the breezes of flattery. Nevertheless

y, by little and little, yielding the ground she fought so hard to keep? Was she not quietly giving her affirmative to the world's question,-and to Mr. Carlisle's too? To the former, yes; for the latter, she knew and Mr. Carlisle knew that she shewed him no more than the regard that would not satisfy him. But then, if this went on indefinitely, would not he, and the world, and her mother, all say that she had given him a sort of prescriptive right to her? Ay, and Eleanor must count her father too now as among her adversaries' ranks. She saw it and felt it somewhat bitterly. She had begun to gain his ear and his heart; by and by he might have listened to her on what subject she pleased, and she might have won him to the knowledge of the truth that she held dearest. Now, she had gained his love certainly, in a measure, but so had Mr. Carlisle. Gently, skilfully, almost unconsciously it seemed, he was as much domiciled in her father's room as she was; and even more acceptable. The Squire had come to depend on him, to look for him, to delight in him; and with very evident admission that he was only anticipating by a little the rights and privileges of sonship. Eleanor could not absent herself neither; she tried that; her father would have her there; and there was Mr. Carlisle, as much at home, and sharing with her in filial offices as

id Julia as she was passing her door, drew her in, and turned the key in the lock.

to you, darling," said the elder

one out, or talking in the drawing-room to people, or in pap

of

chers, and governesses. I m

nt to see you. Are you rememberi

see. Everything is so scratchy. O Elean

ld you I

are, though. Are y

te s

re; and then things w

their being 'scratchy

shut up to learn 'em-and mamma don't care what becomes of me if she can only keep

or si

ia. "Everybody is trying to do

sister, with a smile which made Julia spring to her n

eanor-only tell me what. Tell me

rvant of Christ? have you forgot

want to do right; but I am so

ke a servant of

e something to remember, and I will keep it i

ervants must be and how they must do-just in this one little

Elea

just in the post where he wishes us to be, till he comes. Now let us stand in our po

nd caressed her, not

Rhys, and it is like you; and I do

be like yo

forget it. O Eleanor, are you sur

kes you

o, and everybody says s

ll the time, t

s to put into his head,

u so busy wi

lisle is preparing a bill to bring into the House of Commons, and

glad of his ignorance

ad on her hand and lo

give him th

; and then a great many questions besides these and that spring out of these have to be considered and talked over. And it is important beyond measure; and if I should let it alone,-the whole might fall to the ground. There are two objections now in Mr. Carlisle's mind-or in other people's minds-to one

is a dreadful place?"

that wait for their Lord,'"-said Eleanor, her

, I don't believe. Ele

es

always lo

ve for Jesus makes happ

ever the f

hered about

aid Eleanor smiling. "'

about him-I am a littl

the diff

nd not seeing it; and the difference between havi

ch, if he troubles you?" said Juli

siness of the bill-at all hazards. I cannot let tha

ting up to go,-"mamma means you shall go t

at a little while thinking; not long; and met Mr. Carlisle the next time he came, with precisely the same sweet self-possession, the unchanged calm cool dist

to be the best man he could in the business. He could not get her into a sophistical maze; she found her way through immediately; he could not puzzle her, for what she did not understand one day she had studied out by the next. It is possible that Mr. Carlisle would not have fallen in love with this clear intelligence, if he had known it in the front of Eleanor's qualities; for he was one of tho

and the question of offering a premium upon crime, and a host of questions, were discussed and rediscussed. And partly no doubt from policy, partly from an intelligent v