But Nora specially avoided the place: truth to tell, she was afraid just then to stop and think, afraid to take a glance into her own heart, for Clara's influence was telling upon her, and she had made up her mind to have a sip at the pleasures of life ere she really drank at the well of living waters; and she thought more just then about the gold and ruby crown of this world than of the one which endureth for ever. Ronald's quick eye marked the change in his loved sister, and he in part guessed the cause, but he deemed silence the best course then to be pursued, though he did occasionally throw in a word of counsel. But he saw that in her happy home she was all unconsciously learning many of the qualities which characterize the woman who is "above rubies." The wood was piled up on the altar of her heart and life, only awaiting the fire from Heaven, which sooner or later, he was sure, would fall.
To his brother, Eric spoke little of the new thoughts which had begun to stir in his breast; but he did talk to him of Pedro, and of the affection the little fellow had taken for him. And Ronald felt, without having been told, that an influence, powerful in God's hand for good, had begun to touch the life of his younger brother.
Once again the parting day came round; and this time the separation would be of longer duration, for in six months Ronald was to leave school and begin business in London with his cousin, and Eric was then to take his place at Dr. Bowles' for a whole year, after which he was to enter a mercantile house in Liverpool, from whence he would proceed to China. And so amidst tears, the orphans parted once more—Eric returning for a while to Edinburgh, whither by-and-by Nora, would follow him; and when the last evening came, and Ronald raised the hymn—
"Here we suffer grief and pain;
Here we meet to part again;
In heaven we part no more—"
Nora broke down and sobbed like a child. Nor was she much quieted when in prayer her uncle asked: "That all the party then at the throne of grace might one day, through the merits of Jesus, meet before the throne on high, and obtain from his hand a crown of glory, better far than gold and rubies."
[CHAPTER IX.]
TWO ANGELS.
"Do not cheat thy heart, and tell her
Grief will pass away;
Hope for fairer times in future,
And forget to-day.
Tell her, if you will, that sorrow
Need not come in vain;
Tell her that the lesson taught her
Far outweighs the pain."
"COME, Nora, make haste and finish dressing your hair; the guests will be arriving before long, and I want so much to see how you look with your lovely diadem on. Papa says you will be the beauty of the room to-night. Do make haste, dear."
Clara Ross was the speaker of these words, as she and her cousin Nora stood before a large mirror, engaged in dressing for an evening party which was to take place at the Rosses' house in Edinburgh, whither Nora had lately arrived to spend some weeks.