Nora Clinton; or Did I do right?

Front matter

->* JOTI^CTIYE •:• £T0^IE$ *«- By EMILY BRODIE. UNCLE FRED'S SHILLING: t'tfl &rabels anft glDfaenturca. New Edition. With Illustrations. Crown Svo, cloth extra, 3/6. ' Its many owners, and the scenes of which it is the spectator, are pleasantly set forth to the unbounded delight of the imperious little ones. May many oihers share these children's joy." — Night and Day. "The writing is excellent, and the book will be a real acquisition to the young folk's library." — Christian Age. "Children will follow the story with eager interest, and learn all unconsciously many valuable lessons." — Christian World. LONELY JACK AND HIS FRIENDS AT SUNNYSIDE. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3/6. "A pretty and touching story." — Publishers' Circular. " Its chapters will be eagerly devoured by the reader." — Christian World.

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Chapter I. Ralph Murray

" Give me the book, and let me read, My soul is strangely stirred ; They are such words of love and truth As ne'er before I heard." — Mary Howitt. u ALPH, Ralph, are you here?" and the inquiry was followed up by a somewhat vigorous knocking at a closed door. A manly voice from within was heard calling out, " Come in ;" so the intruder entered. " I thought I should find you here, Ralph," she said. " I do not know whether you can get in, Nell ; but you must mind where you step. You see my goods and chattels are strewn all over." " I should just think they were, Ralph," said Nellie, B as she carefully picked her way through the various articles on the floor. The room, though nearly at the top of the house, was a spacious one, and furnished with every luxury ; but its present appearance was most disorderly.

Packing-cases and large trunks stood about the room, and Ralph was evidently trying, though apparently with little success, to stow his valuables into them. Ralph and Nellie Murray were brother and sister, the eldest and youngest children of their father's family. Ralph was about to sail for the Cape, where business would probably keep him for many months to come ; while Nellie was still a schoolgirl, and be stowed upon this one brother all the warmth of her young heart. She and her elder sister, Blanche, had just come in from school, and Nellie's first thought was to seek out the brother she was to lose so soon. " I am glad you have come, little Sis ; perhaps you can help a fellow. I have had Beatrice up wasting half my morning, but she was worse than useless, and I believe went off in a tiff at last."

Nellie seated herself on the one uncovered piece of carpet, and surveyed the packing with some dismay. She did not respond to her brother's wish for her assistance, but sat looking on rather sadly. " I thought you were going to help a fellow, little Nell," Ralph said at last, " instead of sitting there as if you were down in your shoes ; you will give me the blues if you do not look a little brighter." RALPH MURRAY. 11 Still Nellie did not answer, and Ralph, taking her face up in his two hands to kiss, as he was wont to do with this his pet sister, saw the large blue eyes were full of tears. " Why, little Sis, what is the matter ? " " Oh, Ralph, if you were only not going away ! " "What a foolish little Nell you are!" he said, covering her face with kisses ; "just as if you would care about an old brother like me going away."

" I do care very much, Ralph. I should not mind so much if I were quite sure you would come back again, but the Cape is such a dreadfully long way off." " Of course I shall come back," Ralph said quickly. Then, as if to divert her thoughts, he added gaily, " Why, Nell, I have not told you that I have had a present this morning. Guess where it came from." " I cannot guess, Ralph." " Well, from Aunt Jean ; and what do you think it is ? It is just like her to send it — a Bible." " How odd, Ralph — a Bible ? Let me see it." " Here it is, and such a solemn little letter with it ; just like Aunt Jean too." Nell took the Bible in her hand, and then read the letter. " That Aunt Jean of ours has got some good stuff in her, Nell. When I was up there last summer I made my observations, and when I see the real thing I can appreciate it ; there is no humbug about her.

I believe I should have got quite good if I had staid with her long." " But is she not dreadfully grave and straight-laced, Ralph?" " Aunt Jean grave ? Why she enjoys a little fun as well as anybody. I should say she is a bit of sunshine in any house. She and I became first-rate friends, and I intend to keep the Bible, and read it too, for her sake." Nellie turned over the leaves slowly. " I wonder, Ralph, if it is such a good book, that people do not read it more. I think there are some beautiful pieces in it." "Well, I suppose it is the oldest book the world produces ; it does seem strange that people do not care more for it. I was only reading the other day somewhere about the only Bible in a country village being chained to a desk in the church. I think they valued it more in those strange old times.

In these days it is the fashion to disbelieve it, and turn and twist it about just according to people's tastes ; but I do believe those that read it as Aunt Jean does are the better for it. She and I had a talk about it one day, and I was obliged to confess I never read it ex cept in church. She looked at me very sadly, and said, as if to herself, ' My poor brother, there was a time when you would not have sent your children out into the world without a chart.' I think that is why she has sent me this as a parting gift." RALPH MURRA Y. 13 " I scarcely know where there is one in this house, Ralph. Mamma has one with very handsome clasps, but I do not think she ever reads it." " There are two or three in the library on the top shelf. I took them down one day when I was look ing for something else, and one of them looked as if it had been well read by somebody or other."

" I wonder who the somebody was, for certainly no one reads the Bible in this house, unless it may be Mills." The packing had not made much progress while the brother and sister had been talking, and when the lunch -bell rang out through the house Ralph looked round quite hopelessly. " I had no idea it was so late ; I shall be in a fine scramble at the last, that 's clear." " I wish you would not pack up at all, and let the vessel sail without you, Ralph." Then they left the room together, and Nellie ran hastily to her own room to leave her out-door things, and soon joined the rest in the dining-room. They were, however, all seated before she arrived, and Mrs. Murray glanced up from her plate with a look of annoyance. " Late again, Nellie ; why is it you are always late ? what can you have been doing ?

You came in from school in plenty of time to prepare for lunch, and your hair is so rough, I should think you have never touched it." " Oh, mamma, I ran straight up to Ralph's room, and we have been talking ! I really forgot all about the time," and she tried to smooth the rebellious hair, which somehow always would get rough when it ought not. " You and Ralph are always talking," said Beatrice scornfully. " I cannot think what you can find to talk about." " Well, Beatrice, I shall not have him much longer to talk to," and Nellie's face flushed, partly with anger and partly with tears, which were not far away. Beatrice was the eldest daughter of the house. No expense had been spared in her education, and by the little world in which she moved she was looked upon as accomplished. Her musical talent was consider able, and rarely was a clearer touch heard in private circles than Beatrice Murray's. Her voice was also highly cultivated, but it lacked the depth and sweet ness which could touch the souls of her listeners.

Still people always said, " What a wonderful voice Miss Murray has." Her father was scarcely satisfied with the result of his eldest daughter's education. He had been brought up in a different school himself, and his heart recoiled from the shallowness that he saw only too plainly in Beatrice's character. He resolved that his two younger girls should, if possible, grow up differently. Instead of sending them to a fashionable boarding-school as he had done in Beatrice's case, he determined to send RALPH MURRA Y. 15 them to a school in his own neighbourhood, which they could attend daily, and at the same time remain under their father's roof. Mrs. Murray, who now sat at the head of the table, was not unlike her eldest daughter in appearance. She had probably been handsomer at the same age ; but now the regular features were marred by a fretful expression, which might be half irritable, half nervous, and from time to time she leant back wearily in her chair.

The room in which they sat was richly furnished — valuable pictures adorned the walls, and the table was covered with many luxuries. The conversation soon turned on the subject of a large evening party which was to come off on the following Thursday. It was to be given in Ralph's honour; but the hero of the evening seemed to find it anything but an interesting topic, for he soon rose from the table, saying that he had to go out, and quickly disappeared. "That is just like Ralph," said Beatrice petulantly. " I do not believe he cares in the least about the party ; he really might have helped us a little in some of the arrangements, as it is given specially for him." So the mother and daughter continued chatting together at their end of the table, while Blanche and Nellie discussed their school-life.

Chapter II

nora's home. Just to let thy Father do What He will ; Just to know that He is true, And be still ; Just to follow hour by hour As He leadeth ; Just to draw the moment's power As it needeth." Frances Ridley Havergal. j Blanche and Nellie Murray left the school that day another girl had emerged from the large building, and turned her steps in the opposite direction to the one they had taken. The sisters had watched her retreating figure for a moment as they waited for another school friend, and Blanche remarked : " What an old fright Nora Clinton makes of herself. Look, Nellie, does she not look like her grandmother come to life again ?" Nora, however, trudged on, all unconscious of the uncomplimentary remarks that were being made upon her, and accomplished her long and dreary walk home wards as quickly as she could.

She lived considerably further from the school than Blanche and Nellie, and often the road of suburban semi-detached houses seemed very monotonous. It looked unusually dreary on this particular day, for it was the first week of early winter, and the leaves were lying in dusty heaps at every corner. Nora, intent upon her own thoughts, gave little heed to the passers-by ; and at last turning up a road to the right, where the houses were of a much humbler description, she stopped at the gate of one which looked better cared for than the rest ; that is to say, the windows were clean and bright, and the blinds were drawn up evenly, quite sufficient to tell something of the inmates. Someone had evidently been watching for her, for the door opened before she had time to ring the bell. "Ah, mother dear, is that you?" she said, her whole face brightening up as she caught sight of the figure behind the door.

" Yes, Nora ; I have been looking for you. You are rather late to-day." " Am I ? I think the French lesson was perhaps longer than usual, and I staid a few minutes to explain something to little Kate Parmeter that she could not understand." "Ah, that is right, Nora! As your good father used to say, 'Never be in such a hurry that you cannot wait a minute to show a kindness to another.' " Then Nora ran upstairs, and quickly taking off her outdoor garments, joined her mother in the dining room, where the very simple repast which formed their early dinner was laid ready. Mrs. Clinton and her family had resided in this small domain for two years. She had given up the home she had loved so dearly, and made up her mind to live in this humble way, that she might be able to give Nora an education that would fit her, if need be, for battling with life in after years.

Mr. Clinton had been a doctor, and when Mrs. Clinton married him there was every prospect of his making no small mark in the neighbourhood in which he lived. His advice was sought by those living many miles away ; but he had no thought for himself while doing his best to alleviate the sufferings of others, and those around him never seemed to think that the health of the good, unselfish doctor might fail. Only his wife had fears, and sometimes, as he was setting off to see some distant and urgent case, she would entreat him to take care of himself. "Arthur, if you could only rest sometimes." "Rest, my Maggie!" he would say. "That is not like you. This is not the time for rest, when men and women are dying around us; our rest is not here, our rest is to come." Mrs. Clinton found all her entreaties iu vain, till one day the good doctor was forced to acknowledge that his willing heart could bear him up no longer.

The worn, weary brain asserted itself, and he who had so long tended others was to take his own place in the sick-room. Perfect rest was ordered, and then began those years of anxious watchfulness to the patient wife, as the threads of silver in her dark hair became week by week more numerous. The cares that had been borne by him so lovingly must now be borne alone; their places changed, and she now must be the strong one. Mrs. Clinton could never tell how those years passed on. She spoke of them sometimes to her children ; but when she did, it was rather to strengthen them than for any other reason. At first she had hopes that with the prescribed rest health and power would return to her husband. But this was not to be, and she set herself, as only a brave woman can, trusting upon her God, to bear the daily burdens, which grew heavier and heavier.

The family moved from the commodious house in which they had lived for many years to a much smaller one, in a village two miles away. The house, though small, was comfortable, and had the great charm of a good sized shady garden, where the invalid could lie for hours during the summer days in quiet seclusion. Thus five years passed by, making little mark in the little family, except perhaps that the elder Arthur Clinton grew weaker, while the younger Arthur gradually sprang into manhood. The boy had had from his earliest childhood an intense longing to follow his father's profession. When quite a little fellow he would creep into a corner of his father's surgery, and look with wonder at the mysterious bottles arranged in order along the shelves. As he grew older, he would stand by his father's side, and listen intently to the history of certain medicines, and their various uses, in this way picking up a fund of useful knowledge.

Then he would retire into some quiet corner of the room, with permission to remain there while his father studied. His child's story-book would drop from his hand, while he dreamt day dreams of a doctor's life, and how when he became a man he would delight in curing people. But his father's illness had brought all this to an end, and one day Mr. Clinton told his young son that he feared it would be out of his power to fit him for a doctor, as the term of study, which must last for several years, would be too costly. It was no small struggle for the younger Arthur to give up his day dreams, and frame his life to a different course ; but when, at the age of eighteen, a clerkship in the office of a London merchant was offered him, he quickly decided that he must not throw such an opportunity away.

There had been little to attract a young man, people would have thought, to this cottage home ; but Arthur Clinton, with all his manliness, was not above thinking home the dearest place in the world, and looked forward to his London life with mixed feelings. His father's health had appeared stationary for many months, and loth as Mrs. Clinton was to part with her only son, yet she could not hold him back. Arthur settled himself as best he could in his London lodgings, oftentimes feeling lonely enough. His father had, however, been able to introduce him to one true friend in Dr. Hallam, an old fellow-student, and though they had not met for many years, yet the kindly feeling between the two men was still strong. When Arthur presented himself at Dr. Hallam's residence, and told him who he was, he was at once admitted into the family as a friend.

To spend an evening at Dr. Hallam's seemed like a little bit of home to Arthur, and helped to brighten up his other wise dreary life. The young men that he found in his office were scarcely such as he knew his father would have chosen as his companions ; and the remembrance of his father's noble life, and the vision of him as he left him at home, weak and prostrate, helped to strengthen him against the many temptations that met him on all sides. As. Dr. Hallam came to know more of Arthur, he gradually drew from him the intense desire he had had to follow his father's profession ; and it was not difficult to see that it had been no little struggle to give up the longing of his youth. Dr. Hallam listened to him attentively, drawing Arthur out more than he knew ; and was struck with the knowledge that he showed on many subjects.

For some months Dr. Hallam said nothing as to the thoughts that filled his mind ; he wished to see how Arthur went on in his work, and to prove his character a little more. When Dr. Hallam had satisfied himself that he had read Arthur's character truly, he thought the time had come to open up his plans. One evening, when Arthur had been dining at his house, he led him into his study. "Arthur," he began, "I have been watching you carefully since you came to London, and am satisfied that you desire to do your duty in life faithfully, whatever it may be. If you had been discontented and shirked your present work, uncongenial as it is, I should never have said what I am going to say." Arthur looked up in amazement, wondering what was coming. " You have had a great desire to follow your father's profession, have you not ?

" " Yes, Dr. Hallam ; it has always been my greatest desire." " If you are willing to work, I believe such a life is still open to you, and I will help you. God has pros pered me more than I could have hoped when I first began practice ; I have no son of my own, and so I feel it is in my power to help the son of my old friend. Can you be content to live in London very economically as a student, giving up your whole mind to work ? " Arthur had no need to wait before giving Dr. Hallam a hearty answer to such a question, and the remainder of the evening was happily spent in listening to the doctor's plans for his future. Soon a letter was on its way to the cottage telling Mrs. Clinton of the changed prospects of her son. Just at this time Dr. Clinton's health had failed more than usual, and his loving wife could not help seeing that every day he was growing weaker.

She had thought of writing to Arthur, telling him of her fears, and asking him to come down and see his father ; but then the journey was expensive, and the funds of the family could ill afford it. Dr. Clinton was, how ever, fully able to understand the good tidings about his son, and listened with deepest interest to his plans, even dictating a letter to Dr. Hallam com mending Arthur to his care, and thanking him for the interest he took in him. That day Mrs. Clinton's heart was filled with joy, and she even ventured to hope that her husband would rally, at least for a time. But the next day showed it was only the excitement of the hour that had kept him up, and Mrs. Clinton felt she must hesitate no longer before sending for Arthur. When he arrived there was no mistaking that the end could not be far off.

Consciousness still remained for a few hours, which enabled his father to give him advice and direction as to his future; but his coming was none too soon. Two days after Arthur found himself left the sole protector of his mother and sister. Nora was then fifteen, and as soon as arrangements could be made Mrs. Clinton decided to remove to London, partly on her son's account, and also to give Nora all the advantages of education that were in her power. Nora herself was keenly alive to the value of study. Her powers were by no means brilliant, and she acquired knowledge only with labour ; but her father had left her a rich legacy peculiarly his own — an amount of perseverance and patience which is seldom seen, and thus Nora was able to compete successfully with many of greater talent. Mrs. Clinton and Nora did not spend much time over their repast.

It was quickly cleared away, and without delay Nora set herself to certain homely duties that devolved upon her. Of the whole day this was the part that she disliked the most ; and no one knew how willingly she would have shirked them and turned to her numerous studies, which really re quired more time than she had to give them. But duty stood first in Nora's mind ; and though it was often a struggle, yet she tried hard to do the dis tasteful work willingly and cheerfully. At last she was free to give herself up to her lessons, and worked hard till seven o'clock, the brightest hour of the day, when she might listen for the sharp pull at the door-bell which would tell her of Arthur's return. Nora could not think what the days would be without his home-coming ; it was the one bright, happy spot to be looked forward to all the day long. c

Chapter III. Ralph's Farewell

HURSDAY evening came, and Blanche and Nellie, full of excitement and expectation, entered their father's drawing-room. Everything was in readiness for the guests. The room looked brilliant with its numerous candles, and the perfume of flowers scented the air as it came in through the open conservatory door. " How charming it looks, Nellie, does it not ?" said Blanche. "Yes," came from Nellie in an absent tone; for as she looked round she remembered it was a farewell evening for Ralph. "Why, Nellie, how stupid you are! You do not seem to care half as much as I do ; I think it is all delightful!" " I dare say I should think so too, Blanche, if Ralph were not going~away. It is only because this evening is specially for him that we are here at all, and I would much rather be in the schoolroom than have him leave us."

"You make a great fuss about Ralph, Nellie, but I do not see what is the use of fretting over things like that. Why, he is only going for two years, and then he will be back again ; I heard papa saying so this morning." " Yes ; but, Blanche, suppose he never came back." " Really, Nellie, you are most absurd to talk like that ! Why should you think of such a thing ? Plenty of people have gone farther away than the Cape, and have come back again ; but I must go upstairs again, for I have left my glove on the dressing-table." As Blanche hurried out of the room Ralph entered, and found Nellie alone. There was still half an hour before the first of the guests might be expected. " You have dressed early to-night, Ralph ; I am so glad." " Yes, I thought I would ; for I knew you would be dressed before the others, being a youngster, you know, and I thought perhaps I should have you to myself.

Come along in here, Nell," he added, taking his sister's hand, and drawing her into the conser vatory. " We can have a cosy chat here all to our selves. I wish these people were not coming to-night. My mother seems to think one cannot enjoy oneself without for ever going out and receiving. I think it is a great bother. When I have a house of my own I shall choose to live more quietly. I suppose you will be almost a woman, Nell, by the time I come back." " Yes, Ralph, ready to keep your house for you." Ralph gave a low whistle, and looked at her with rather an amused look. " That 's to be it, is it, Nell ? Well, we shall see." "Ralph, I was in the library this morning, and suddenly thought I would look at the top shelf and see if I could find the Bibles you spoke of, and I found all three just as you said, covered with dust.

I liked the look of the well-worn one the best, so I dusted it and carried it up to my own room. How I wonder who it belonged to !" "What are you going to do with it ?" " I am going to read it, because you said you in tended to read the one Aunt Jean sent you. You must write to me often, Ralph, and then you can tell me what you think of it." Ralph sat thinking. "Well, Nell," he said presently, " I think there is nothing like looking at a thing oneself. It is no use being guided by what everybody says ; so you and I will read the old Book ourselves, and compare notes. I have heard enough about it lately to make one think it is a delusion altogether, for many say half the Bible is a myth, and perfectly incredible ; but when I think of Aunt Jean and her bright intelligent face, and still more of her life, I feel silenced.