ill a bit agone; and now it's
all fear. I fear furder'n I can see."
"Nanny, Nanny, the blood of Christ will take all that fear away--if
only you will trust in it. He shed it for you--to pay your debts to
justice. There is no condemnation to them which are in him."
Nanny did not know exactly what so big a word as condemnation meant;
Eleanor was obliged to explain it; then what was meant by being "in
Christ." Towards morning Nanny seemed somewhat soothed and fell into a
doze. Eleanor went to the cottage door and softly opened it, to see how
the night went.
The dawn was breaking fair over the hills, the tops of which shewed the
unearthly brightness of coming day. It took Eleanor's eyes and thoughts
right up. O for the night of darkness to pass away from this weary
earth! Down in the valley the shadows lay thicker; how thick they lay
about the poor head just now resting in sleep. How thick they lay but a
day or two ago upon Eleanor herself! Now she looked up. The light was
flushing upon the 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 floated past her face
bringing the breath of the flowers fresher and nearer; and the hill
tops ever kindled into more and more glow. "It is Spring! and it is
Day!" thought Eleanor,--"and so it is in my heart. The darkness is
gone; the light is like that light,--promising more; my life is full of
sweetness I never knew. Surely this month shall be the month of months
to me for ever. O for this day--O for this morning--to waken over all
the world!"
She stood there, for Nanny still slept, till the sunbeams struck the
hills and crept down the sides of them; and till John and Jane came in
sight round the angle of the road. John had 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 of dress. When she came down to the
sitting-room Mrs. Caxton had stepped out on some business; and in her
place, sitting alone with a book, Eleanor was greatly surprised to see
Mr. Rhys.
He was n
|