we two-第7章

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laces。　　But　I　don't　know　when　they　will　be　over。　　As　soon　as　one　bigot〃　she　broke　off　suddenly；　with　a　stifled　exclamation　of　dismay。

Charles　Osmond；　in　the　dim　light；　with　his　long　gray　beard；　had　not　betrayed　his　clerical　dress；　but；　glancing　round　at　him　now；　she　saw　at　once　that　the　stranger　to　whom　she　had　spoken　so　unreservedly　was　by　no　means　one　of　her　father's　followers。

〃Well！〃　he　said；　smiling；　half　understanding　her　confusion。

〃You　are　a　clergyman！〃　she　almost　gasped。

〃Yes；　why　not？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　I　never　thoughtyou　seemed　so　much　too〃

〃Too　what？〃urged　Charles　Osmond。　　Then；　as　she　still　hesitated；　〃Now；　you　must　really　let　me　hear　the　end　of　that　sentence；　or　I　shall　imagine　everything　dreadful。〃

〃Too　nice；〃　murmured　Erica；　wishing　that　she　could　sink　through　the　floor。

But　the　confession　so　tickled　Charles　Osmond　that　he　laughed　aloud；　and　his　laughter　was　so　infectious　that　Erica；　in　spite　of　her　confusion；　could　not　help　joining　in　it。　　She　had　a　very　keen　sense　of　the　ludicrous；　and　the　position　was　undoubtedly　a　laughable　one；　still　there　were　certain　appalling　recollections　of　the　past　conversation　which　soon　made　her　serious　again。　　She　had　talked　of　persecutions　to　one　who　was；　at　any　rate；　on　the　side　of　persecutors；　had　alluded　to　bigots；　and；　worst　of　all；　had　spoken　in　no　measured　terms　of　〃tiresome　Christians。〃

She　turned；　rather　shyly；　and　yet　with　a　touch　of　dignity；　to　her　visitor；　and　said：

〃It　was　very　careless　of　me　not　to　notice　more；　but　it　was　dark；　and　I　am　not　used　to　seeing　any　but　our　own　people　here。　　I　am　afraid　I　said　things　which　must　have　hurt　you；　I　wish　you　had　stopped　me。〃

The　beautiful　color　had　spread　and　deepened　in　her　cheeks；　and　there　was　something　indescribably　sweet　and　considerate　in　her　tone　of　apology。　　Charles　Osmond　was　touched　by　it。

〃It　is　I　who　should　apologize；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　not　at　all　sure　that　I　was　justified　in　sitting　there　quietly；　knowing　that　you　were　under　a　delusion；　but　it　is　always　very　delightful　to　me　in　this　artificial　world　to　meet　any　one　who　talks　quite　naturally；　and　the　interest　of　hearing　your　view　of　the　question　kept　me　silent。　　You　must　forgive　me；　and　as　you　know　I　am　too　nice　to　be　a　clergyman〃

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon。　　How　rude　I　have　been；〃　cried　Erica；　blushing　anew；　〃but　you　did　make　me　say　it。〃

〃Of　course；　and　I　take　it　as　a　high　compliment　from　you；〃　said　Charles　Osmond；　laughing　again　at　the　recollection。　　〃Come；　may　we　not　seal　our　friendship？　　We　have　been　sufficiently　frank　with　each　other　to　be　something　more　than　acquaintances　for　the　future。〃

Erica　held　out　her　hand　and　found　it　taken　in　a　strong；　firm　clasp；　which　somehow　conveyed　much　more　than　an　ordinary　handshake。

〃And；　after　all；　you　ARE　too　nice　for　a　clergyman！〃　she　thought　to　herself。　　Then；　as　a　fresh　idea　crossed　her　mind；　she　suddenly　exclaimed：　〃But　you　came　to　tell　us　about　Mr。　Randolph's　roughs；　did　you　not？　　How　came　you　to　care　that　we　should　know　beforehand？〃

〃Why；　naturally　I　hoped　that　a　disturbance　might　be　stopped。〃

〃Is　it　natural？〃　questioned　Erica。　　〃I　should　have　thought　it　more　natural　for　you　to　think　with　your　own　party。〃

〃But　peace　and　justice　and　freedom　of　speech　must　all　stand　before　party　questions。〃

〃Yet　you　think　that　we　are　wrong；　and　that　Christianity　is　right？〃

〃Yes；　but　to　my　mind　perfect　justice　is　part　of　Christianity。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Erica；　in　a　tone　which　meant　unutterable　things。

〃You　think　that　Christians　do　not　show　perfect　justice　to　you？〃　said　Charles　Osmond；　reading　her　thoughts。

〃I　can't　say　I　think　they　do；〃　she　replied。　　Then；　suddenly　firing　up　at　the　recollection　of　her　afternoon's　experiences；　she　said：　〃They　are　not　just　to　us；　though　they　preach　justice；　they　are　not　loving；　though　they　talk　about　love。　　If　they　want　us　to　think　their　religion　true；　I　wonder　they　don't　practice　it　a　little　more　and　preach　it　less。　　What　is　the　use　of　talking　of　'brotherly　kindness　and　charity；'　when　they　hardly　treat　us　like　human　beings；　when　they　make　up　wicked　lies　about　us；　and　will　hardly　let　us　sit　in　the　same　room　with　them！〃

〃Come；　now；　we　really　are　sitting　in　the　same　room；〃　said　Charles　Osmond；　smiling。

〃Oh；　dear；　what　am　I　to　do！〃　exclaimed　Erica。　　〃I　can't　remember　that　you　are　one　of　them！　　You　are　so　very　unlike　most。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Charles　Osmond；　〃you　have　come　across　some　very　bad　specimens。〃

Erica；　in　her　heart；　considered　her　visitor　as　the　exception　which　proved　the　rule；　but　not　wishing　to　be　caught　tripping　again；　she　resolved　to　say　no　more　upon　the　subject。

〃Let　us　talk　of　something　else；〃　she　said。

〃Something　nicer？〃　said　Charles　Osmond；　with　a　little　mischievous　twinkle　in　his　eyes。

〃Safer；〃　said　Erica；　laughing。　　〃But　stop；　I　hear　my　father。〃

She　went　out　into　the　passage　to　meet　him。　　Charles　Osmond　heard　her　explaining　his　visit　and　the　news　he　had　brought；　heard　Raeburn's　brief　responses；　then；　in　a　few　moments；　the　two　entered　the　room；　a　picturesque　looking　couple；　the　clergyman　thought；　the　tall；　stately　man；　with　his　broad　forehead　and　overshadowing　masses　of　auburn　hair；　the　little　eager…faced；　impetuous　girl；　so　winsome　in　her　unconventional　frankness。

The　conversation　became　a　trifle　more　ceremonious；　though　with　Erica　perched　on　the　arm　of　her　father's　chair；　ready　to　squeeze　his　hand　at　every　word　which　pleased　her；　it　could　hardly　become　stiff。　　Raeburn　had　just　heard　the　report　of　Mr。　Randolph's　scheme；　and　had　already　taken　precautionary　measures；　but　he　was　surprised　and　gratified　that　Charles　Osmond　should　have　troubled　to　bring　him　word　about　it。　　The　two　men　talked　on　with　the　most　perfect　friendliness；　and　by　and　by；　to　Erica's　great　delight；　Charles　Osmond　expressed　a　wish　to　be　present　at　the　meeting　that　night；　and　made　inquiries　as　to　the　time　and　place。

〃Oh；　couldn't　you　stay　to　tea　and　go　with　us？〃　she　exclaimed；　forgetting　for　the　third　time　that　he　was　a　clergyman；　and　offering　the　ready　hospitality　she　would　have　offered　to　any　one　else。

〃I　should　be　delighted；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃if　you　can　really　put　up　with　one　of　the　cloth。〃

Raeburn；　amused　at　his　daughter's　spontaneous　hospitality；　and　pleased　with　the　friendly　acceptance　it　had　met　with；　was　quite　ready　to　second　the　invitation。　　Erica　was　delighted；　she　carried　off　the　cat　and　the　toast　into　the　next　room；　eager　to　tell　her　mother　all　about　the　visitor。

〃The　most　delightful　man；　mother；　　not　a　bit　like　a　clergyman。　　I　didn't　find　out　for　ever　so　long　what　he　was；　and　said　all　sorts　of　dreadful　things；　but　he　didn't　mind；　and　was　not　the　least　offended。〃

〃When　will　you　learn　to　be　cautious；　I　wonder；〃　said　Mrs。　Raeburn；　smiling。　　〃You　are　a　shocking　little　chatter…box。〃

And　as　Erica　flitted　busily　about；　arranging　the　tea　table；　her　mother　watched　her　half　musedly；　half　anxiously。　　She　had　always　been　remarkably　frank　and　outspoken；　and　there　was　something　so　transparently　sincere　about　her；　that　she　seldom　gave　offense。　　But　the　mother　could　not　help　wondering　how　it　would　be　as　she　grew　older　and　mixed　with　a　greater　variety　of　people。　　In　fact；　in　every　way　she　was　anxious　about　the　child's　future；　for　Erica's　was　a　somewhat　perplexing　character；　and　seemed　very　ill　fitted　for　her　position。

Eric　Haeberlein　had　once　compared　her　to　a　violin；　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　truth　in　his　idea。　　She　was　very　sensitive；　responding　at　once　to　the　merest　touch；　and　easily　moved　to　admiration　and　devoted　love；　or　to　strong　indignation。　　Naturally　high…spirited；　she　was　subject；　too；　to　fits　of　depression；　and　was　always　either　in　the　heights　or　the　depths。　　Yet　with　all　these　characteristics　was　blended　her　father's　indomitable　courage　and　tenacity。　　Though　feeling　the　thorns　of　life　far　more　keenly　than　most　people；　she　was　one　of　those　who　will　never　yield；　though　pricked　and　wounded　by　outward　events；　she　would　never　be　conquered　by　circumstances。　　At　present　her　capabilities　for　adoration；　which　were　very　great；　were　lavished　in　two　directions；　in　the　abstract　she　worshipped　intellect；　in　the　concrete　she　worshipped　her　father。

From　the　grief　and　indignation　of　the　afternoon　she　had　passed　with　extraordinary　ra