she would
have no power to withdraw; and once his own, let him have once again
the right to take her to his breast and whisper love or authority, and
he knew he could win that fine sweet nature to give him back love as
well as obedience,--in time. And so the bill went on in its progress
towards maturity. It did not go very fast.

All this while the sisters saw very little of each other. One morning
Eleanor waylaid Julia as she was passing her door, drew her in, and
turned the key in the lock. The first impulse of the two was to spring
to each other's arms for a warm embrace.

"I never have a chance to speak to you, darling," said the elder
sister. "What has become of you?"

"O I am so busy, you see--all the times except when you are gone out,
or talking in the drawing-room to people, or in papa's room. Then I am
out, and you are out too; somewhere else."

"Out of what?"

"Out of my studies, and teachers, and governesses. I must go now in two
minutes."

"No you must not. Sit down; I want to see you. Are you remembering what
we have learnt together?"

"Sometimes--and sometimes it is hard, you see. Everything is so
scratchy. O Eleanor, are you going to marry Mr. Carlisle?"

"No. I told you I was not."

"Everybody says you are, though. Are you _sure_ you are not?"

"Quite sure."

"I almost wish you were; and then things would go smooth again."

"What do you mean by their being 'scratchy'? that is a new word."

"Well, everything goes cross. I am in ever so many dictionaries besides
English--and shut up to learn 'em--and mamma don't care what becomes of
me if she can only keep me from you; and I don't know what you are
doing; and I wish we were all home again!"

Eleanor sighed.

"I call it _scratchy_," said Julia. "Everybody is trying to do what
somebody else don't like."

"I hope you are not going on that principle,"--said her sister, with a
smile which made Julia spring to her neck again and load her lips with
kisses over and over.

"I'll try to do what you like, Eleanor--only tell me what. Tell me
something, and I will remember it."

"Julia, are you going to be a servant of Christ? have you forgotten
that you said you loved him?"

"No, and I do, Eleanor! and I want to do right; but I am so busy, and
then I get so vexed!"

"That is not like a servant of Jesus, darling."

"No. If I could only see you, Eleanor! Tell me something to remember,
and I will keep it in my head, in spite of all the dicti