Gritlis Children | Page 2

and at that
moment an elderly woman entered the room--a woman who looked so
exquisitely neat that one would have thought that she had no other
business in life than that of keeping in perfect order her gray hair, with
its snow-white cap, and her simple, spotless dress; but, on the contrary,
she was the house-keeper, and had the whole charge of the big house,
with all its complicated domestic arrangements. Both mother and
daughter exclaimed on seeing her, "Oh, Clarissa, how glad I am that
you've come!" And both began to ask her opinion as to the visit to the
garden, which the invalid so longed for, but which her mother hesitated
to grant.
Clarissa was a person of rare character, and a tower of strength in this
household, where, from the lady of the house down to the lowest
servant, her word was followed as law and obeyed with affection; and
one took into the clear depths of her honest, loving eyes explained the
secret of her power: they were "Mother's eyes."
"Say 'yes,' Clarissa, and let us go," begged the child, pathetically.
"The air is soft, all the birds are singing and calling us: why should we
not try it to-day, dear Mrs. Stanhope?" said Clarissa.
"Yes; if you think best, we will," answered the mother. And Frederic,
the tall footman, was summoned to carry the little girl down the long
staircase and out of the house. Then, once out-of-doors, the two women,
supporting the child tenderly between them, led her through the sunny
garden.
"Nora, are you happy now?" asked the mother, tenderly.
"Yes; it is beautiful here," replied the child; "but I should like to go
down to the stone bench by the river-side, where the branches dip into

the water."
So they went on over the green terraces to the water-side, down to the
seat almost hidden under the lindens, among the clusters of whose
pendent, sweet-smelling blossoms the bees were busy, mingling their
deep murmur with the song which the Rhine sang in passing. Nora's
eyes followed the dancing waves that seemed like living, happy sprites.
"Oh! how I wish that I could leap and dance so, mamma! away! away!
but I am so tired; I am always tired. I long to hop about as the birds do
up in the trees there, and sing and be merry; but I am always so tired."
"My darling, when you are stronger you will dance," replied her mother,
in a cheerful tone; but her looks belied her voice, for she was far from
feeling the confidence which she tried to give.
"The doctor is coming to-day, and we will ask him what we can do this
summer to make you stronger. Now we must go back to the house,
Nora; you look pale and ill, my child. Is anything more than usual the
matter with you?"
Nora assured her mother that she was only tired. After any unusual
exertion, her face always grew paler and her expression more suffering.
She reached the house with difficulty, and, when Frederic had carried
her up to her bed-room, she lay on the sofa a long time without moving,
thoroughly exhausted.
The doctor came towards noon, and declared that a complete change of
air would be the best thing for the little Nora, who certainly seemed to
be losing strength daily. He would write to a physician, a friend of his
in Switzerland, to find a suitable place for her, and would come again
as soon as he received an answer.
Towards evening, Nora sat once more in the window, gazing wearily at
the long slanting rays of the setting sun that fell across the greensward
in golden radiance, and lighted up the rose-leaves till they shone like
lamps among the flowers. Clarissa sat at her work-table by Nora's side
and from time to time, she raised her head and looked sadly at the frail

form that lay so motionless in the window-seat.
"Clarissa," said the child, presently, "will you repeat the old song of
Paradise to me?"
Clarissa laid aside her work.
"We will sing it together again some day, dear child, when you are
strong enough; now I will say it to you if you wish" and she folded her
hands and began:--
"A stream of water, crystal bright, Flows down through meadows green,
Where lilies, shining in the light, Like twinkling starlets gleam.
"And roses blow, and roses glow, While birds in every tree Are singing
loud, are singing low, 'In Paradise are we.'
"Here, gently blows the soft, sweet wind; Bright flowers grow all
around; Men wake, as from a dream, to find They tread on holy ground.
"In blissful happiness they rove, At peace with each and all; United
now in bonds of love, Freed from