we two-第62章
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nd distributed tracts； and kind words； and soup tickets； and blanket tickets； besides the most lavish gifts from her own purse。 Rose； to please her mother； taught a class of little girls on Sunday afternoon that is to say； she did NOT teach them； but she sat in a chair and heard them say collects； and enforced orderly behavior upon them； and read them a good little story book。 But these were merely rather tiresome duties which came in very often as provoking interruptions to the great business of life； namely eating； drinking； dining out； giving dinners； or attending the endless succession of at…homes； dances； musical evenings； amateur theatricals； by which Greyshot people tried to kill time。
As to taking any intelligent interest in the political world； no one seemed to dream of such a thing； except Mr。 Fane…Smith； who read the paper at breakfast； and hurled anathemas at all the statesmen whom Erica had learned to love and revere。 It taxed her patience to the utmost to sit through the daily diatribe against Sir Michael Cunningham； her hero of heroes。 But even the violent opposition seemed preferable to the want of interest shown by the others。 Mrs。 Fane…Smith had time to fritter away at least half an hour after breakfast in the most desultory conversation； the most fruitless discussions with Rose as to some detail of dress； but she always made the excuse that she 〃had no time〃 to read the papers； and amused Erica not a little by asking her husband if 〃anything particular had been happening lately；〃 when they were just starting for a dinner party。 Out of his little rechauffe of the week's news she probably extracted enough information to enable her to display that well…bred interest； that vague and superficial acquaintance with the subject which will pass muster in society； and which probably explains alike the very vapid talk and the wildly false accusations which form the staple of ordinary conversation。
Rose was even more perplexing。 She was not only ignorant； but she boasted of her ignorance。 Again and again Erica heard her deprecate the introduction of any public question。
〃Oh； don't begin to talk of that！〃 she would exclaim。 〃I know nothing about it； and never mean to know anything。〃
Or there would be an imploring appeal。
〃Why do you waste your time in talking politics when you have never told me a word about so…and…so's wedding？〃
She occasionally read the 〃Court Circular；〃 and was rather fond of one or two of the 〃society〃 papers from which she used to glean choice little paragraphs of personal gossip。
Once one of these papers gave Erica an uncomfortable experience。 The elders of the party being out for the evening； Rose and Erica had the drawing room to themselves； and Erica was really enjoying the rare novelty of talking with a girl of her own age。 Rose； although the most arrant little flirt； was fond； too； of her girl friends； and she really liked Erica； and enjoyed the fun of initiating her into all the mysteries and delights of society。
〃How did you get your name？〃 she asked； suddenly。 〃It is so pretty and so uncommon。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Erica； without thinking； 〃I was called after my father's friend； Eric Haeberlein。〃
〃Eric Haeberlein？〃 exclaimed Rose。 〃Why； I was reading something about him this afternoon。 Here it is look！〃 And after searching the columns of her favorite 〃society〃 paper； she pointed to the following paragraph：
〃It is now known as a positive fact that the notorious Eric Haeberlein was actually in London last week in connection with the disgraceful Kellner business。 ON DIT that he escaped detection through the instrumentality of one of the fair sex； whose audacity outweighed her modesty。〃
Erica could hardly have restrained her indignation had not two real dangers drawn off her attention from her own wounded feelings。 Her father was there any hateful hint that he was mixed up with Herr Kellner？ She glanced anxiously down the page。 No； at least that falsehood had not been promulgated。 She breathed more freely； but there was danger still； for Rose was watching her； and feminine curiosity is hard to baffle。
〃Did you know about it？〃 she asked。
Erica did not reply for a moment； but read on； to gain time； then she threw down the paper with an exclamation of disgust。
〃How can you read such stuff？〃
〃Yes； but is that the Eric Haeberlein you were named after？ Did he really come to London and escape？〃
〃There is only one Eric Haeberlein in the world that I know of；〃 said Erica。 〃But I think； Rose； I was wrong and foolish to mention him。 I can't tell you anything about him； and； even if I could； there is my promise to Aunt Isabel。 If I am not to talk to you about my father； I certainly ought not to talk about his friends。〃
Rose acquiesced； and never suspected any mystery。 She chatted on happily for the rest of the evening； brought down a great collection of old ball…cards； and with a sort of loving recollection described each very minutely； just as some old nurses have a way of doing with the funeral cards of their deceased friends。 This paved the way for a spontaneous confession that she really preferred Mr。 Torn； the curate of St。 Matthew's； to Captain Golightly； though people were so stupid； and would say she was in love with him just because they flirted a little sometimes。 Rose had already imagined herself in love with at least a dozen people； and was quite ready to discuss every one of her flirtations； but she was disappointed to find that her cousin was either very reserved on the subject； or else had nothing to say。
Erica sat listening with a sort of wonder； not unmixed with disgust。 Perhaps she might have shown her disapprobation had she not been thankful to have the conversation diverted from the dangerous topic； besides； the cruel words were still rankling in her heart； and woven in with Rose's chatter she heard continually； 〃whose audacity outweighed her modesty。〃 For the first time she fully understood why her father had so reluctantly consented to her scheme； she began to feel the sting which lay beneath the words； the veiled 〃hints；〃 the implied evil； more wounding； more damaging than an outspoke lie。 Now that she understood the ways of society better； she saw； too； that what had seemed to her an unquestionable duty would be regarded as a grave breach of custom and etiquette。 She began to question herself。 Had she been right？ It mattered very little what the writer of a 〃society〃 paper said of her； if she had done the really right thing。 What had she done？ To save her father's friend from danger； to save her father from unmerited suspicion； she had gone out late in the evening with a man considerably over fifty； whom she had known from her babyhood。 He had； it is true； been in the disguise of a young man。 She had talked to him on the platform much as she would have talked to Tom； and to save his almost certain detection； had sprung into the carriage； thrown her arms round his neck； and kissed him。 HAD audacity outweighed her modesty？ Why； all the time she had been thanking God for having allowed her to undertake the difficult task for her father on that particular evening。 She had done it in the sight of God； and should she now make herself miserable because the world was wanting in that charity which 〃thinketh no evil？〃 No； she had been right of that she was certain。 Nevertheless； she understood well enough that society would condemn her action； and would with a smile condone Rose's most outrageous flirtation。
The first week in a new place always seems long； and Erica felt as if she had been away from home for months by the time it was over。 Every one had been very kind to her so far； but except when she was playing lawn…tennis she was somehow far from happy。； Her happiest moments were really those which she spent in her own room before breakfast； writing； and the 〃Daily Review〃 owed some very lively articles to the Greyshot visit。 Beyond a sort of clan feeling for her aunt； and a real liking for Rose who； in spite of her follies； was good…humored and very lovable she had not yet found one point of union with her new relations。 Even possible topics of conversation were hard to find。 They cared nothing for po
