"That is over now?"

Eleanor took her eyes from the fire, to give Mrs. Caxton a smile with
the words--"Thank the Lord!"

"Mr. Rhys is among scenes that might try any natural courage," said
Mrs. Caxton. "They are a desperate set of savages to whom he is
ministering."

"What a glory, to carry the name of Christ to them!"

"They are hearing it, too," said Mrs. Caxton. "But there is enough of
the devil's worst work going on there to try any tender heart; and
horrors enough to shock stout nerves. So it has been. I hope Mr. Rhys
finds it better."

"I don't know much about them," said Eleanor. "Are they much worse than
savages in general, aunt Caxton?"

"I think they are,--and better too, in being more intellectually
developed. Morally, I think I never read of a lower fallen set of human
beings. Human life is of no account; such a thing as respect to
humanity is unknown, for the eating of human bodies has gone on to a
most wonderful extent, and the destroying them for that purpose. With
all that, there is a very careful respect paid to descent and rank; but
it is the observance of fear. That one fact gives you the key to the
whole. Where a man is thought of no more worth than to be killed and
eaten, a woman is not thought worth anything at all; and society
becomes a lively representation of the infernal regions, without the
knowledge and without the remorse."

"Poor creatures!" said Eleanor.

"You comprehend that there must be a great deal of trial to a person of
fine sensibilities, in making a home amongst such a people, for an
indefinite length of time."

"Yes, aunty,--but the Lord will make it all up to him."

"Blessed be the name of the Lord!" it was Mrs. Caxton's turn to answer;
and she said it with deep feeling and emphasis.

"It seems the most glorious thing to me, aunt Caxton, to tell the love
of Christ to those that don't know it. I wish I could do it."

"My love, you do."

"I do very little, ma'am. I wish I could do a thousand times more!"

The conversation stopped there. Both ladies remained very gravely
thoughtful a little while longer and then separated for the night. But
the next evening when they were seated at tea alone, Mrs. Caxton
recurred to the subject.

"You said last night, Eleanor, that you wished you could do a great
deal more work of a certain kind than you do."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Did your words mean, my love, that you are discontented with your own
sphere of duty, or find it too