we two-第19章

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t　and　the　child…like　devotion　；　the　great　love　of　learning　and　the　intense　love　of　fun　and　humor。　　Charles　Osmond　had　only　once　in　all　his　long　years　of　experience　met　with　a　character　which　interested　him　so　much。

〃After　all；〃　he　said；　when　they　had　talked　for　some　time；　〃I　have　never　told　you　that　I　came　on　a　begging　errand；　and　I　half　fear　that　you　will　be　too　busy　to　undertake　any　more　work。〃

Erica's　face　brightened　at　the　word；　was　not　work　what　she　lived　for？

〃Oh！　　I　am　not　too　busy　for　anything！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　shall　quote　Marcus　Aurelius　to　you　if　you　say　I　haven't　time！　　What　sort　of　work？〃

〃Only；　when　you　can；　to　come　to　us　in　the　afternoon　and　read　a　little　to　my　mother。　　Do　you　think　you　could？　　Her　eyes　are　failing；　and　Brian　and　I　are　hard　at　work　all　day；　I　am　afraid　she　is　very　dull。〃

〃I　should　like　to　come　very　much；〃　said　Erica；　really　pleased　at　the　suggestion。　　〃What　sort　of　books　would　Mrs。　Osmond　like？〃

〃Oh；　anything！　　History；　travels；　science；　or　even　novels；　if　you　are　not　above　reading　them！〃

〃I？　　Of　course　not；〃　said　Erica；　laughing。　　〃Don't　you　think　we　enjoy　them　as　much　as　other　people？　When　there　is　time　to　read　them；　at　least；　which　isn't　often。〃

Charles　Osmond　laughed。

〃Very　well　then；　you　have　a　wide　field。　　From　Carlyle　to　Miss　Bird；　and　from　Ernst　Haeckel　to　Charles　Reade。　　I　should　make　them　into　a　big　sandwich　if　I　were　you。〃

He　said　goodbye；　and　left　Erica　still　on　the　hearth　rug；　her　face　brighter　than　it　had　been　for　months。

〃I　like　that　man；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃He's　honest　and　thorough；　and　good　all　through。　　Yet　how　in　the　world　does　he　make　himself　believe　in　his　creed？　　Goodness；　Christlikeness。　　He　looked　so　grand；　too；　as　he　said　that。　　It　is　wonderful　what　a　personal　sort　of　devotion　those　three　have　for　their　ideal。〃

She　wandered　away　to　recollections　of　Thekla　Sonnenthal；　and　that　carried　her　back　to　the　time　of　their　last　parting；　and　the　recollection　of　her　sorrow。　　All　at　once　the　loneliness　of　the　present　was　borne　in　upon　her　overwhelmingly；　she　looked　around　the　little　room；　the　Ilkley　couch　was　pushed　away　into　a　corner；　there　was　a　pile　of　newspapers　upon　it。　　A　great　sob　escaped　her。　　For　a　minute　she　pressed　her　hands　tightly　together　over　her　eyes；　then　she　hurriedly　opened　a　book　on　〃Electricity；〃　and　began　to　read　as　if　for　her　life。

She　was　roused　in　about　an　hour's　time　by　a　laughing　exclamation。　　She　started；　and　looking　up；　saw　her　cousin　Tom。

〃Talk　about　absorption；　and　brown　studies！〃　he　cried；　〃why；　you　eat　everything　I　ever　saw。　　I've　been　looking　at　you　for　at　least　three　minutes。〃

Tom　was　now　about　nineteen；　he　had　inherited　the　auburn　coloring　of　the　Raeburns；　but　otherwise　he　was　said　to　be　much　more　like　the　Craigies。　　He　was　nice　looking；　but　somewhat　freckled；　and　though　he　was　tall　and　strongly　built；　he　somehow　betrayed　that　he　had　led　a　sedentary　life　and　looked；　in　fact；　as　if　he　wanted　a　training　in　gymnastics。　　For　the　rest　he　was　shrewd；　business…like；　good…natured；　and　at　present　very　conceited。　　He　had　been　Erica's　friend　and　playfellow　as　long　as　she　could　remember；　they　were　brother　and　sister　in　all　but　the　name；　for　they　had　lived　within　a　stone's　throw　of　each　other　all　their　lives；　and　now　shared　the　same　house。

〃I　never　heard　you　come　in；〃　she　said；　smiling　a　little。　　〃You　must　have　been　very　quiet。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you'd　hear　a　salute　fired　in　the　next　room　if　you　were　reading；　you　little　book　worm！　　But　look　here；　I've　got　a　parody　on　the　chieftain　that'll　make　you　cry　with　laughing。　　You　remember　the　smashed　windows　at　the　meeting　at　Rilchester　last　week？〃

Erica　remembered　well　enough；　she　had　felt　sore　and　angry　about　it；　and　the　comments　in　the　newspapers　had　not　been　consolatory。　　She　had　learned　to　dread　even　the　comic　papers；　but　there　was　nothing　spiteful　in　the　one　which　Tom　produced　that　evening。　　It　was　headed：

Scotch　song　（Tune〃Twas　within　a　mile　of　Edinboro'town〃

〃Twas　within　a　hall　of　Rilchester　town；　In　the　bleak　spring…time　of　the　year；　Luke　Raeburn　gave　a　lecture　on　the　soul　of　man；　And　found　that　it　cost　him　dear。　Windows　all　were　smashed　that　day；　They　said：　'The　atheist　can　pay。'　But　Scottish　Raeburn；　frowning　cried：　'Na；　na；　it　winna　do；　I　canna；　canna；　winna；　winna；　munna　pay　for　you。'〃

The　parody　ran　on　through　the　three　verses　of　the　song；　the　conclusion　was　really　witty；　and　there　was　no　sting　in　it。　　Erica　laughed　over　it　as　she　had　not　laughed　for　weeks。　　Tom；　who　had　been　trying　unsuccessfully　to　cheer　her　ever　since　her　return；　was　quite　relieved。

〃I　believe　the　sixpence　a　day　style　suits　you；〃　he　said。　　〃But；　I　say；　isn't　anything　coming　up？　　I'm　as　hungry　as　a　hunter。〃

Their　elders　being　away　for　a　few　days；　Tom　and　Erica　were　amusing　themselves　by　trying　to　live　on　the　rather　strange　diet　of　the　man　who　published　his　plan　for　living　at　the　smallest　possible　cost。　　They　were　already　beginning　to　be　rather　weary　of　porridge；　pea　soup　and　lentils。　　This　evening　pea　soup　was　in　the　ascendant；　and　Erica；　tired　with　a　long　afternoon's　work；　felt　as　if　she　could　almost　as　soon　have　eaten　Thames　mud。

〃Dear　me；〃　she　said；　〃it　never　struck　me；　this　is　our　Lenten　penance！　　Now；　wouldn't　any　one　looking　in　fancy　we　were　poor　Romanists　without　an　indulgence？〃

〃Certainly　without　any　self…indulgence；〃　said　Tom；　who　never　lost　an　opportunity　of　making　a　bad　pun。

〃It　would　be　a　great　indulgence　to　stop　eating；〃　said　Erica；　sighing　over　the　soup　yet　to　be　swallowed。

〃Do　you　think　it　is　more　inspiriting　to　fast　in　order　to　save　one's　soul　than　it　is　to　pay　the　chieftain's　debts？　　I　wish　I　could　honestly　say；　like　the　little　French　girl　in　her　confession：　'J'ai　trop　mang。'〃

Tom　dearly　loved　that　story；　he　was　exceeding　fond　of　getting　choice　little　anecdotes　from　various　religious　newspapers；　especially　those　which　dealt　in　much　abuse　of　the　Church　of　Rome；　and　he　retailed　them　CON　AMORE。　　Erica　listened　to　several；　and　laughed　a　good　deal　over　them。

〃I　wonder；　though；　they　don't　see　how　they　play　into　our　hands　by　putting　in　these　things；〃　she　said　after　Tom　had　given　her　a　description　of　some　ludicrous　attack　made　by　a　ritualist　on　an　evangelical。　　〃I　should　have　thought　they　would　have　tried　to　agree　whenever　they　could；　instead　of　which　they　seem　almost　as　spiteful　to　each　other　as　they　are　to　us。〃

〃They'd　know　better　if　they'd　more　than　a　grain　of　sense　between　them；〃　said　Tom；　sweepingly；　〃but　they　haven't；　and　as　they're　always　playing　battledoor　and　shuttlecock　with　that；　it　isn't　much　good　to　either。　　Of　course　they　play　into　our　hands。　　I　believe　the　spiteful　ultra…high　paper；　and　the　spiteful　ultra…low　paper　do　more　to　promote　atheism　than　the　'Idol…Breaker'　itself。〃

〃How　dreadful　it　must　be　for　men　like　Mr。　Osmond；　who　see　all　round；　and　yet　can't　stop　what　they　must　think　the　mischief。　　Mr。　Osmond　has　been　here　this　afternoon。〃

〃Ah；　now；　he's　a　stunning　fellow；　if　you　like；〃　said　Tom。　　〃He's　not　one　of　the　pig…headed　narrow…minded　set。　　How　he　comes　to　be　a　parson　I　can't　make　out。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　from　their　point　of　view　it　is　the　best　thing　to　be；　I　mean　he　gets　plenty　of　scope　for　work。　　I　fancy　he　feels　as　much　obliged　to　speak　and　teach　as　father　does。〃

〃Pity　he's　not　on　our　side；〃　said　Tom；　〃they　say　he's　a　first…rate　speaker。　　But　I'm；　afraid　he　is　perfectly　crazy　on　that　point；　he'll　never　come　over。〃

〃I　don't　think　we've　a　right　to　put　the　whole　of　his　religiousness　down　to　a　mania；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Besides；　he　is　not　the　sort　of　man　to　be　even　a　little　mad；　there's　nothing　the　least　fanatical　about　him。〃

〃Call　it　delusion　if　you　like　it　better。　　What's　in　a　name？　　The　thing　remains　the　same。　　A　man　can't　believe　what　is　utterly　against　reason　without　becoming；　as　far　as　that　particular　belief　is　concerned；　unreasonable；　beyond　the　pale　of　reason；　therefore　deluded；　therefore　mad。〃

Erica　looked　perplexed；　she　did　not　think　Tom's　logic　altogether　good；　but　she　could　not　correct　it。　　There　was；　however；　a　want　of　generosity　about　the　assertion　which　instantly　appealed　to　her　fine　sense　of　honor。

〃I　can't　argue　it　out；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃but　it　doesn't　seem　to　me　fair　to　put　down　what　we　can't　understand　in　other　people　to　madness；　it　never　seemed　to　me　quite　fair　for　Festus　to　accuse　Paul　of　madness　when　he　really　had　made　a　splendid　defense；　and　it　doesn't　seem　fair　that　you　should　accuse　Mr。　Osmond　of　being　mad。〃

〃Only　on　that　one　point；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Just　a　little　touched；　you　know。　　How　else　can　you　account　for　a　man　like　that　believing　what　he　professes　to　believe？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Erica；　relapsing　into　perplexed　silence。　　

〃Besides；〃　continued　Tom；　〃you　cry　out　because　I　say　they　must　be　just　a　little　touched；　but　they　accuse　us　of　something　far　worse　than　madness；　they　accuse　us　of　absolute　wickedness。〃

〃Not　all　of　them；〃　said　Erica。

〃The　greater　part；〃　said　Tom。　　〃How　often　do　you　think　the　chieftain　meets　with　really　fair　treatment　from　the　antagonists？〃

Erica　had　nothing　to　say　to　this。　　The　harshness　and　intolerance　which　her　father　had　constantly　to　encounter　was　the　great　grief　of　her　life；　the　perpetual　source　of　indignation；　her　strongest　argument　against　Christianity。

〃Have　you　much　to　do　tonight？〃　she　asked；　not　anxious　to　stir　up　afresh　the　revolt　against　the　world's　injustice　which　the　merest　touch　would　set　working　within　her。　　〃I　was　thinking　that；　if　there　was　time　to　spare；　we　might　go　to　see　the　professor；　he　has　promised　to　show　me　some　experiments。〃

〃Electricity？〃　Tom　pricked　up　his　ears。　　〃Not　half　a　bad　idea。　　If　you'll　help　me　we　can　polish　off　the　letters　in　an　hour　or　so；　and　be　free　by　eight　o'clock。〃

They　set　to　work；　and　between　them　disposed　of　the　correspondence。

It　was　a　great　relief　to　Erica　after　her　long　day's　work　to　be　out　in　the　cool　evening　air。　　The　night　was　fine　but　very　windy；　indeed　the　sudden　gusts　at　the　street　corners　made　her　glad　to　take　Tom's　arm。　　Once；　as　they　rather　slackened　their　speed；　half　baffled　by　the　storm；　a　sentence　from　a　passer…by　fell　on　their　ears。　　The　speaker　looked　like　a　countryman。

〃Give　me　a　good　gas…burner　with　pipes　and　a　meter　that　a　honest　man　can　understand！　　Now　this　'ere　elective　light　I　say　it's　not　canny；　I've　no　belief　in　things　o'　that　kind；　it　won't　never〃

The　rest　of　the　speech　died　away　in　the　distance。　　Tom　and　Erica　laughed；　but　the　incident　set　Erica　thinking。　　Here　was　a　man　who　would　not　believe　what　he　could　not　understand；　who　wanted　〃pipes　and　a　meter；〃　and　for　want　of　comprehensible　outward　signs　pooh…poohed　the　great　new　discovery。

〃Tom；〃　she　said　slowly；　and　with　the　manner　of　one　who　makes　a　very　unpleasant　suggestion；　reluctantly　putting　forward　an　unwelcome　thought；　〃suppose　if；　after　all；　we　are　like　that　man；　and　reject　a　grand　discovery　because　we　don't　know　and　are　too　ignorant　to　understand！　　Tom；　just　suppose　if；　after　all；　Christianity　should　be　true　and　we　in　the　wrong！〃

〃Just　suppose　if；　after　all；　the　earth　should　be　a　flat　plain　with　the　sun　moving　round　it！〃　replied　Tom　scornfully。

They　were　walking　down　the　Strand；　he　did　not　speak　for　some　minutes；　in　fact　he　was　looking　at　the　people　who　passed　by　them。　　For　the　first　time　in　his　life