his cruel letter broke Eleanor down completely. It settled the
question of her life indeed; and settled it according to her wish and
against her fears; but for all that, it was a letter of banishment and
renunciation. With something of the feeling which makes a wounded
creature run to shelter, Eleanor gathered up her papers and went down
to Mrs. Caxton; threw them into her lap, and kneeling beside her put
herself in her arms.

"What is it, my child?" said Mrs. Caxton. "What does your mother say to
you?"

"She gives her consent--but she gives me up to you, aunt Caxton. She
counts me your child and not hers."

"My love, I asked her to do so. You have been mine, in my own mind, for
a long time past. My Eleanor!"--And Mrs. Caxton's kiss and her warm
clasping arms spoke more than her words.

"But she renounces me--and she will not let me see Julia."--Eleanor was
in very great distress.

"She will by and by. She will not hold to that."

"She says she will not at all. O aunt Caxton, I want to see Julia
again!"--

"Were you faithful to Julia while you were with her?"

"Yes--I think so--while I could. I had hardly any chance the last
winter I was at home; we were never together; but I seized what I
could."

"Your mother kept you apart?"

"I believe so."

"My child, remember, as one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
so one word is as a thousand words; he can make it do his work. All we
have to do is to be faithful, and then trust. You recollect the words
of that grand hymn on the Will of God--

"'I do the little I can do,
And leave the rest to thee.'

"I don't think I know it."

Mrs. Caxton went on.

"'When obstacles and trials seem
Like prison walls to be,
I do the little I can do,
And leave the rest to thee.

"'I know not what it is to doubt;
My heart is ever gay;
I run no risk, for, come what will,
Thou always hast thy way.

"'I have no cares, O blessed will!
For all my cares are thine.
I live in triumph, Lord, for thou
Hast made thy triumphs mine.'"

Eleanor lifted up her face and pressed a long kiss on her aunt's lips.
"But I want to see Julia!"

"My love, I think you will. It will be some time yet before you can
possibly leave England. I think your mother will withdraw her
prohibition before that time. Meanwhile--"

Eleanor lay with her head on Mrs. Caxton's bosom, her brown eyes
looking out with a sweet and sorrowful wistfulness towards the light.