"Good-bye, Nora; don't forget brother Ronald; and remember our mother's wish concerning you and the rubies."
She had answered through her tears, "Yes, brother, I will; I have begun already. I am going to be the kind of woman that is above rubies."
Poor Nora! She meant what she said, but as yet she had not even guessed the true meaning of the words, and all her efforts were made in her own strength, the utter weakness of which she had yet to learn in the school of experience.
[CHAPTER III.]
THE DIADEM OF LEAVES.
To the crags all bright, in the golden light,
With floral diadems!
As fresh and fair, as rich and rare,
As any royal gems.
"PATIENCE is a virtue, and perseverance is a virtue, and so is punctuality, and uncle says I possess none of these qualities, and yet I want to be a virtuous woman; so I must try hard to become patient, persevering, and punctual."
So soliloquized little Nora Macintosh the morning after Ronald's departure for school. Just as she had formed these brave resolutions, the prayer-bell rang, and knowing that her habit of coming into the library five minutes late, and so disturbing every one, was one of the causes of her uncle's complaint of her unpunctuality, she at once opened her bed-room door, and for a wonder contrived to join the family group ere they were seated. She was so pleased with this good beginning of carrying out her resolutions that it was some time ere she remembered, with a feeling of dismay, that she had forgotten her quiet morning prayer in her own room.
When she remembered it, she ran upstairs and knelt down, then repeated a form of words without thought, to which we dare not give the name of prayer. It was a bad beginning. Still Nora was now quite content, and confident that she would soon be all her mother had desired.
"Aunt," she said after breakfast was over, "it is such a fine day, mayn't I walk across the moor half-way and meet Miss Stewart? And then we'll come home together."