CHAPTER V.

HELPING ON THE KINGDOM.

"Jesus, Master, whom I serve, Though so feebly and so ill, Strengthen hand and heart and nerve All thy bidding to fulfil; Open thou mine eyes to see All the work thou hast for me."

ON just such an October morning as we have spoken of in our last chapter, Austin Warner stood lost in thought. School-boy though he was, and one of the most eager of them at all boyish games, yet there were times when grave thoughts and even anxieties pressed on his heart. All was not going well in his home life, and he knew it. Since his mother's death, everything had become changed; and the question he was asking himself that morning was, how far he could hinder the growing evil.

He had just prayed the Lord's Prayer, and the petition, "Thy kingdom come," was ringing in his ears. Was it not, he was asking himself, a solemn mockery to repeat those words day by day, and yet do nothing to help on that kingdom, or at least to try to prevent the increase of Satan's one?

True, he was young, and could not do much; but was he doing what he could? Lewis, his loved brother, his constant playmate and companion, was, he feared, going far astray from the kingdom of God, and he knew not how to stop him. Nay, he was afraid he had most unwillingly helped him on his downward path; for often lately, rather than let his brother fall under his father's displeasure, he had written his exercises for him, and more than once worked out his mathematical problems also, for Lewis had got into the way of remaining out in the evenings and spending them with idle companions, saying:

"It was so dull at home now he could not stand it. Priscilla, not he, was to blame if he went wrong. A fellow must have amusement somewhere."

Thinking on these things, Austin resolved to delay no longer, but speak to his brother, and beg him to begin the session in a new spirit. Rousing himself from his reverie, he ran downstairs to the breakfast-room, where he found Priscilla alone, Lewis not having as yet appeared.

"Good morning, Prissy," Austin said in a cheerful tone.

But though his sister smiled in reply, and echoed his words, she looked tired and listless.

"Lewis is late again as usual," she said. "I can't think how he will get on at school if he goes on in this way. Miss Vernon should speak to him, or do something in the matter."

"Miss Vernon has spoken to him, Prissy, and very kindly too; but don't you think if you did, it would have more effect? Indeed you don't know into what difficulties he is getting himself; and it will just break our father's heart if any complaints of Lewis reach his ear."

"You are not afraid of that?" said his sister, now almost pale with fear. "I would not have my father vexed on any account, for we all know how his heart is bound up in Lewis."

"Will you speak to him yourself then, Prissy?" urged Austin.

"What use is there in my so doing?" she replied. "I did once, and he said something about it being all my fault, and that when mother was alive it was very different. As if," went on the girl passionately, "I needed to be reminded of how different every thing was when she was alive. I only wish I could get away from it all, and live to some purpose in the world."

Austin drew near his sister, and put his arm lovingly round her. "Prissy," he said, "don't you think if we were really doing well, the little things God has given us to do, we would be living to some purpose, and helping on his kingdom?"

Austin's grave, earnest words touched the girl's heart.

"I do believe you are helping it on," she said; "but as for me, everything seems wrong. Even in what I thought was to be my great work I have come to a standstill. I can go no further in either mathematics or astronomy without a teacher, and my father would not instruct me in either, I know."

Austin smiled a loving arch smile. "Poor Prissy!" he said. "But don't be vexed if I say I'm not sorry you have come to a standstill in these things. Don't despair—you will find a use for them some day; but at present we need you sorely for many things, Prissy. There is work, and plenty of it, lying at your hand. But I must go and see if I can get Lewis out of bed."

He bounded upstairs, and soon returned with Lewis to the breakfast-room, where Miss Vernon was presiding at the tea-table, and Dr. Warner and the children had assembled.

"Late as usual, boys," said the professor, not angrily, but with a pleased, proud look at the two handsome lads as they entered arm in arm. "Sitting up too late at night studying, Lewis, I fear; but remember the saying, 'Early to bed, and early to rise, is the way to be healthy and wealthy and wise.'"

Breakfast over, both boys set off to school, and Austin gained courage to speak a word to his brother.

"Lewis," he said, "have you spoken to young M'Ivor in your class? He is such a capital fellow. Might we ask him to come and walk with us next half-holiday? He has made friends already with the best set of boys in the school, and it would be jolly for us to join them. You know, Lewis, it would grieve our father terribly if he knew how you spend your evenings with Smith and Roberts and that set. Do begin this session afresh, and remain at home in the evenings. Is it not mean and wrong to let our father think you are studying hard, when all the while you are really worse than wasting your time?"

"Well," said Lewis, "I know it is not right; but what can one do? It is so horribly dull at home. Prissy pores over a book the whole evening, and never speaks to any one; and Miss Vernon's head is always aching, and she stays in her own room. We have such jolly times in the club-room; and we are not doing any real harm, at least I don't. But, old boy, I daresay you are right, and I don't want to vex you, so maybe I'll try and endure a night at home if I can."

As soon as school was over, Austin ran home and got hold of his sister.

"O Prissy," he said, "Lewis has promised to begin to stay at home in the evenings this session. Will you try to make it bright for him? Do try, and I'll do all I can to help you."

But Prissy's mood had changed since the morning. She had got a new book on astronomy, which had at once occupied her mind. She had already been obliged to lay it down several times in order to obey some positive command of Miss Vernon's, and she was looking forward with eagerness to the evening, when she would be free to study it unmolested. For Priscilla's idea of spending a pleasant evening was to set the children with some picture-book or solitary game round the table, telling them to make as little noise as possible, as she wished to read.

So when Austin spoke she only replied testily, "Really I think Lewis might learn to spend his evenings rationally like other people. What does he wish to do? Does he need you or me to play with him, as if he were a baby, requiring to be amused? It is too absurd, Austin. You, like every one else, seem bent on spoiling Lewis."

But even as she spoke, Harry Lascelles' words, "Make the evenings pleasant at home for Lewis," rose to her remembrance. And she said, "But if you wish it, I will see what I can do."

Perhaps she did try; but if so, she failed. The evening seemed long and tedious to Lewis. He asked for music, of which he was very fond; but his sister said, "Oh, really I could not play to-night. I have not practised regularly for a long time."

"Well, then, let us have a song," he said, "and Austin and I will take a part as we used to do."

But Prissy answered, "I can't sing to-night. Don't you hear how hoarse I am?" And turning away, she resumed her book.

And Lewis, muttering, "I can't stand this, Austin," rose and went out, slamming the door after him.

When, ere lying down to rest, Prissy repeated—dare we say prayed?—the Lord's Prayer, and asked that his "kingdom might come," did she think she had tried to help on its coming in the heart of her own brother that day? Or, rather, were there not evil spirits rejoicing that night over the fresh hold they had got on a young soul, which they might have been hindered from having by a sister's loving words and holy example? Yes, Priscilla Warner had done a work that day, but it was in the furthering of Satan's, not God's kingdom.

Did angels envy her that work, as Harry Lascelles said they might have done the one God had given her to do? Alas! Alas!

In his own room that night, Austin Warner waited, as he had often done before, till he heard his brother's step returning at a late hour, and then hastened to open the door for him, in case a ring or knock should bring their father out of his study to ask who was there.

He opened it in silence; and without speaking a word, Lewis slipped off to bed.

Austin went to bed also; but in doing so, one low bitter cry rose to his Father in heaven: "O God, forgive me. I did try to help on thy kingdom to-day, but have failed. For Christ's sake, forgive; and help me to begin afresh to-morrow. Oh! Save my brother Lewis from the evil one, and open my sister's eyes to see the truth."

Had his efforts been altogether in vain? Or was the fact that both Priscilla and Lewis lay down that night with troubled consciences not the effect in some measure of his brave endeavours to help on the kingdom of God?