"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.Ididn'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.
