ever;
when a hand touched hers and she found Julia at her side.

"Eleanor," she said wistfully, "are you _sorry_ to be at home again?"

"I am glad to see you, darling; and papa, and mamma."

"But you don't look glad. Was it so much pleasanter where you have
been?"

Eleanor struggled with herself.

"It was very different, Julia--and there were things that you and I
both love, that there are not here."

"What?"

"Here all is for the world, Julia; there, at Plassy, nothing is for the
world. I feel the difference just at first--I suppose I shall get a
little used to it presently."

"I have not thought so much about all that," said Julia soberly, "since
Mr. Rhys went away. But you must have loved aunt Caxton very much,
Eleanor, to make you sorry to come home."

Julia spoke almost sadly. Eleanor felt bitterly reproached. Was there
not work at home here for her to do! Yet she could hardly speak at
first. Putting her arm round Julia she drew her down beside her on a
green bank and took her little sister in her arms.

"You and I will help each other, Julia, will we not?"

"In what?"

"To love Christ, and please him."

"Why, do you love him?" said Julia. "Are you like Mr. Rhys?"

"Not much. But I do love the same Master he loves, Julia; and I have
come home to serve him. You will help me?"

"Mamma don't like all that," remarked Julia.

Eleanor sighed. The burden on her heart seemed growing heavy. Julia
half rose up and putting both arms round her neck covered her lips with
kisses.

"You don't seem like yourself!" she said; "and you look as grave as if
you had found us all dead. Eleanor--are you afraid?" she said with an
earnest look.

"Afraid of what, dear?"

"Of that man--afraid of Mr. Carlisle?"

"No, I am not afraid of him, or of anything. Besides, he is hundreds of
miles away, in Switzerland or somewhere."

"No he isn't; he is here."

"What do you mean by 'here?'"

"In England, I mean. He isn't at the Priory; but he was here at the
Lodge the other day."

Eleanor's heart made two or three springs one way and another.

"No dear, I am not afraid of him," she repeated, with a quietness that
was convincing; and Julia passed to other subjects. Eleanor did not
forget that one; and as Julia ran on with her talk, she pondered it,
and made a secret thanksgiving that she was so escaped both from danger
and from fear. Nevertheless she could not help thinking about the
subject. It seemed that Mr. Carlisl