Character Analysis
As her last name suggests, Eleanor is a savagely free spirit who does whatever she wants. As the narrator tells us,
Eleanor hated Maryland passionately. She belonged to the oldest of the old families of Ramilly County and lived in a big, gloomy house with her grandfather. (2.3.4)
So like Amory, she comes from a long line of wealthy people. But unlike Amory, she rejects this rich life completely, opting instead to run through hay fields and sing in the rain while the whole world is telling her to settle down and be a good girl.
When Amory first meets Eleanor, he thinks: "She was a witch, of perhaps nineteen […] alert and dreamy and with the tell-take white line over her upper lip that was a weakness and a delight" (2.3.31).
That said, Amory is instantly attracted to this witchy woman. He'll never love her as much as he loved Rosalind Connage, but Eleanor provides the perfect personality for Amory to rebound from the crushing loss of Rosalind. Eleanor knows this and figures that her relationship with Amory will never last. But even though their time together is short, it's something neither Eleanor or Amory will ever forget. They even write poetry to one another for years after seeing each other for the last time.