[Inkscape-user] Clipping?

I'm finding trouble getting to grips with clipping!

Say I have two lines crossing near their ends and I want to cut the 'loose' ends off. If I then draw around a piece of line I want trimming, select the line to be trimmed and the clipping path object, and then do Object -> Clip, everything _other_ than the bit I want trimmed disappears! Is this the way it should work?

I have the feeling that I'm missing the point regarding clipping (and the docs aren't very clear)!

Jim Ford