she gave him no occasion to
complain of an unready talker or an unwilling companion. A little
particular kindness indeed she had for him, left from 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, as coolly as she gave to others. Mr. Carlisle took
in many things the place of an accepted suitor; but never in Eleanor's
manner, he knew. It chafed him, it piqued him; it made him far more
than ever bent on obtaining her hand; her heart he could manage then.
Just now it was beyond his management; and when Mrs. Powle smiled
congratulation, Mr. Carlisle bit his lip. However, he had strong aids;
he did not despair. He hoped something from London.

So they all went to London. Eleanor could gain no satisfactory
explanation why. Only her mother asserted that her father's health must
have the advice of London physicians. The Squire himself was not much
more explicit. That his health was not 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 unintelligible grunt and grumble now and then seemed to confirm her
view of the case; but there they were, fixed in London, and Eleanor was
called upon to enter into all sorts of London gaieties, of which always
Mr. Carlisle made part and parcel.

Eleanor made a stand, and declined to go to places where she could not
enjoy nor sympathize with what was done. She could not think it duty to
go to the opera, or the theatre, or to great routs, even to please her
mother. Mrs. Powle made a stand too, and insisted, and was very angry;
but Eleanor stood firm; and the end was, she gained her point. Mr.
Carlisle was disappointed, but counselled 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 s