"Excellent," said Eleanor. "Keep your own counsel, Julia; and you and I will go some day soon, and see what we can find."
"Where will you go? to Brompton?"
"Of course. There is no other place to go to. But keep your own counsel, Julia."
If Julia kept her own counsel, she did not so well know how to keep her sister's; for the very next day, when she was at Mrs. Williams's cottage, the sight of the old portfolio brought up her talk with Eleanor and all that had led to it; and Julia out and spoke.
"Mr. Rhys, I don't believe that Eleanor wants to be married and go to
Rythdale Priory."
Mr. Rhys's first movement was to rise and see that the door of communication with the next room was securely shut; then as he sat down to his writing again he said gravely,
"You ought to be very careful how you make such remarks, Julia. You might without knowing it, do great harm. You are probably very much mistaken."
"I am careful, Mr. Rhys. I only said it to you."
"You had better not say it to me. And I hope you will say it to nobody else."
"But I want to speak to somebody," said Julia; "and she was crying in her room yesterday as hard as she could. I do not believe, she wants to go to Rythdale!"