we two-第42章

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eared　the　long　black　wig　to　an　ordinary　and　unnoticeable　length；　and；　when　Tom's　ulster　and　hat　were　added；　the　disguise　was　so　perfect；　and　made　Haeberlein　look　so　absurdly　young；　that　Raeburn　himself　could　not　possibly　have　recognized　him。

In　past　years　Raeburn　had　often　risked　a　great　deal　for　his　friend。　　At　one　time　his　house　had　been　watched　day　and　night　in　consequence　of　his　well…known　friendship　with　the　Republican　Don　Quixote。　　Unfortunately；　therefore；　it　was　only　too　probable　that　Haeberlein　in　risking　his　visit　this　evening　might　have　run　into　a　trap。　　If　he　were　being　searched　for；　his　friend's　house　would　almost　inevitably　be　watched。

They　exchanged　farewells；　not　without　some　show　of　emotion　on　each　side；　and　just　at　the　last　Raeburn　hastily　bent　down　and　kissed　Erica's　forehead；　at　his　heart　a　sickening　sense　of　anxiety。　　She　too　was　anxious；　but　she　was　very　happy　to　have　found　on　the　evening　of　her　baptism　so　unusual　a　service　to　render　to　her　father；　and；　besides；　the　consciousness　of　danger　always　raised　her　spirits。

When；　as　they　had　half　expected；　they　found　the　would…be　natural…looking　detective　prowling　up　and　down　the　cul…de…sac；　it　was　no　effort　to　her　to　begin　at　once　a　laughing　account　of　a　school　examination　which　Charles　Osmond　had　told　her　about；　and　so　naturally　and　brightly　did　she　talk　that；　though　actually　brushing　past　the　spy　under　the　full　light　of　the　street　lamp。；　she　entirely　disarmed　suspicion。

It　was　a　horrible　moment；　however。　　Her　heart　beat　wildly　as　they　passed　on；　and　every　moment　she　thought　she　should　hear　quick　steps　behind　them。　　But　nothing　came　of　it；　and　in　a　few　minutes　they　were　walking　down　Southampton　Row。　　When　this　was　safely　passed；　she　began　to　feel　comparatively　at　ease。　　Haeberlein　thought　they　might　take　a　cab。

〃Not　a　hansom；〃　she　said；　quickly；　as　he　was　on　the　point　of　hailing　one。　　〃You　would　be　so　much　more　exposed；　you　know！〃

Haeberlein　extolled　her　common　sense；　and　they　secured　a　four…wheeler　and　drove　to　Cannon　Street。

Talking　now　became　more　possible。　　Haeberlein　leaned　far　back　in　the　corner；　and　spoke　in　low　tones。

〃Thou　has　been　my　salvation；　Erica；〃　he　said；　pressing　her　hand。　　〃That　fellow　would　never　have　let　me　pass　in　the　Italian　costume。　　Thou　wert　right　as　usual；　it　was　theatrical　how　do　you　call　stagey；　is　it　not？

〃I　am　a　little　troubled　about　your　mouth；〃　said　Erica；　smiling；　〃the　mustache　doesn't　disguise　it；　and　it　looks　so　good…tempered　and　like　itself。　　Can't　you　feel　severe　just　for　half　an　hour？〃

Haeberlein　smiled　his　irresistibly　sweet　smile；　and　tried　to　comply　with　her　wishes；　but　not　very　successfully。

〃I　think；〃　said　Erica；　presently；　〃it　will　be　the　best　way；　if　you　don't　mind；　for　you　just　to　stroll　through　the　booking　office　while　I　take　your　ticket。　　I　can　meet　you　by　the　book　stall　and　I　will　still　talk　for　us　both　in　case　you　betray　your　accent。〃

〃HERZBLATTCHEN！〃　exclaimed　Haeberlein；　〃how　shall　I　ever　repay　thee！　　Thou　art　a　real　canny　little　Scot！　　I　only　wish　I　had　half　thy　caution　and　forethought！〃

〃Don't　look　like　that！〃　said　Erica；　laughing；　as　the　benignant　expression　once　more　came　over　his　lips。　　〃You　really　must　try　to　turn　down　the　corners！　　Your　character　is　a　silent；　morose　misanthrope。　　I　am　the　chatter　box；　pure　and　simple。〃

They　were　both　laughing　when　they　drew　near　to　the　station；　but　a　sense　of　the　risk　sobered　Haeberlein；　and　Erica　carried　out　her　programme　to　perfection。　　It　was　rather　a　shock　to　her；　indeed；　to　find　a　detective　keenly　inspecting　all　who　went　to　the　ticket　office。　　He　stood　so　close　to　the　pigeon　hole　that　Erica　doubted　whether　Herr　Haeberlein's　eyebrows；　improved　though　they　were；　could　possibly　have　escaped　detection。　　It　required　all　her　self　command　to　prevent　her　color　from　rising　and　her　fingers　from　trembling　as　she　received　the　ticket　and　change　under　that　steady　scrutiny。　　Then　she　passed　out　on　to　the　platform　and　found　that　Herr　Haeberlein　had　been　wise　enough　to　buy　the　paper　which　least　sympathized　with　his　views；　and　in　a　few　minutes　he　was　safely　disposed　in　the　middle　of　a　well…filled　carriage。

Erica　took　out　her　watch。　　There　were　still　three　minutes　before　the　train　started；　three　long；　interminable　minutes！　　She　looked　down　the　platform；　and　her　heart　died　within　her；　for；　steadily　advancing　toward　them；　she　saw　two　men　making　careful　search　in　every　carriage。

Herr　Haeberlein　was　sitting　with　his　back　to　the　engine。　　Between　him　and　the　door　sat　a　lady　with　a　copy　of　the　〃Graphic〃　on　her　knee。　　If　she　could　only　have　been　persuaded　to　read　it；　it　might　have　made　an　effectual　screen。　She　tried　to　will　her　to　take　it　up；　but　without　success。　　And　still　the　detectives　moved　steadily　forward　with　their　keen　scrutiny。

Erica　was　in　despair。　　Herr　Haeberlein　imagined　himself　safe　now；　and　she　could　not　warn　him　without　attracting　the　notice　and　rousing　the　suspicion　of　the　passengers。　　To　complete　her　misery；　she　saw　that　he　had　pushed　his　wig　a　little　on　one　side；　and　through　the　black　hair　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　silver　gray。

Her　heart　beat　so　fast　that　it　almost　choked　her；　but　still　she　forced　herself　to　talk　and　laugh；　though　every　moment　the　danger　drew　nearer。　　At　the　very　last　moment　an　inspiration　came　to　her。　　The　detectives　were　examining　the　next　carriage。

〃They　are　taking　things　in　the　most　leisurely　way　tonight！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I'm　tired　of　waiting。　　I　shall　say　goodbye　to　you；　and　go　home；　I　think。

As　she　spoke；　she　opened　the　carriage　door　stepped　in；　and　demonstratively　kissed　her　silent　companion；　much　to　the　amusement　of　the　passengers；　who　had　been　a　good　deal　diverted　by　her　racy　conversation　and　the　grumpy　replies　of　the　traveler。　　There　was　a　smile　on　every　face　when　one　of　the　detectives　looked　in。　　He　glanced　to　the　other　side　of　the　carriage　and　saw　a　dark…haired　young　man　in　an　ulster；　and　a　pretty　girl　taking　leave　of　her　lover。　　Erica's　face　entirely　hid　Herr　Haeberlien's　from　view　and　the　man　passed　on　with　a　shrug　and　a　smile。　　She　had　contrived　to　readjust　his　wig；　and　with　many　last　words；　managed　to　spin　out　the　remaining　time；　till　at　last　the　welcome　signal　of　departure　was　given。

Haeberlein's　mouth　relaxed　into　a　benignant　smile；　as　he　nodded　a　farewell；　then　he　discreetly　composed　himself　into　a　sleeping　posture；　while　Erica　stood　on　the　platform　and　waved　her　handkerchief。

As　she　moved　away　the　two　detectives　passed　by　her。

〃Not　there！　At　any　rate；〃　she　heard　one　of　them　say。　　〃Maybe　they　got　him　by　the　nine　o'clock　at　Waterloo。〃

〃More　likely　trapped　him　in　Guilford　Terrace；〃　replied　the　other。

Erica；　shaking　with　suppressed　laughter；　saw　the　men　leave　the　station；　and　then；　springing　into　a　cab；　drove　to　a　street　in　the　neighborhood　of　Guildford　Square。

Now　that　her　work　was　over；　she　began　to　feel　what　a　terrible　strain　it　had　been。　　At　first　she　lay　back　in　the　corner　of　the　cab　in　a　state　of　dreamy　peace；　watching　the　gas…lighted　streets；　the　hurrying　passengers；　with　a　comfortable　sense　of　security　and　rest。　　But　when　she　was　set　down　near　Guilford　Square；　her　courage；　which　in　real　danger　had　never　failed　her；　suddenly　ebbed　away；　and　left　her　merely　a　young　girl；　with　aching　back　and　weary　limbs；　with　a　shrinking　dislike　of　walking　alone　so　late　in　the　evening。　　Worse　of　all；　her　old　childish　panic　had　taken　hold　of　her　once　more；　her　knees　trembled　beneath　her；　as　she　remembered　that　she　must　pass　the　spy；　who　would　assuredly　still　be　keeping　watch　in　Guilford　Terrace。　　The　dread　of　being　secretly　watched　had　always　been　a　torment　to　her。　　Spies；　sometimes　real；　sometimes　imaginary；　had　been　the　terror　of　her　childhood　had　taken　the　place　of　the　ghost　and　bogy　panics　which　assail　children　brought　up　in　other　creeds。

The　fact　was；　she　had　been　living　at　very　high　pressure；　and　she　was　too　much　exhausted　to　conquer　her　unreasonable　fright；　which　increased　every　moment；　until　she　was　on　the　point　of　going　to　the　Osmonds；　willing　to　frame　any　excuse　for　so　late　a　visit　if　only　she　could　get　one　of　them　to　walk　home　with　her。　　Honesty　and　shame　hindered　her；　however；　With　a　great　effort　of　will　she　forced　herself　to　pass　the　door；　horrified　to　find　how　nearly　selfish　cowardice　had　induced　her　to　draw　her　friends　into　suspicion。　　Echoes　of　the　hymns　sung　at　her　baptism；　and　at　the　subsequent　confirmation　rang　in　her　ears。　　She　walked　on　more　bravely。

By　the　time　she　reached　Guilford　Terrace；　she　had　herself　quite　in　hand。　　And　it　was　well；　for；　as　she　walked　down　the　dreary　little　alley；　a　dark　form　emerged　from　the　shadow；　and　suddenly　confronted　her。

Any　one　might　reasonably　be　a　little　startled　by　having　a　sudden　pause　made　before　them　by　an　unknown　person　on　a　dark　night。　　Erica　thought　she　could　exactly　sympathize　with　a　shying　horse；　she　felt　very　much　inclined　to　swerve　aside。　　Fortunately　she　betrayed　no　fear；　only　a　little　surprise；　as　she　lifted　her　head　and　looked　the　man　full　in　the　face；　then　moved　on　with　quiet　dignity。　　She　felt　him　follow　her　to　the　very　door；　and　purposely　she　took　out　her　latch　key　with　great　deliberation；　and　allowed　him；　if　he　pleased；　to　take　a　quiet　survey　of　the　passage　while　she　rubbed　her　boots　on　the　mat；　then；　with　a　delicious　sense　of　safety；　she　closed　the　door　on　the　unfriendly　gaze。。

In　the　meantime；　Raeburn　had　spent　a　miserably　anxious　evening；　regretting　his　rash　permission　for　Erica　to　go；　regretting　his　own　enforced　inaction；　regretting　his　well…known　and　undisguisable　face　and　form；　almost　regretting　that　his　friend　had　visited　him。　　Like　Erica；　he　was　only　personally　brave；　he　could　not　be　brave　for　other　people。　　Actual　risk　he　would　have　enjoyed；　but　this　anxious　waiting　was　to　him　the　keenest　torture。

When　at　length　the　age…long　hour　had　passed；　and　he　heard　the　front　door　close；　he　started　up　with　an　exclamation　of　relief；　and　hurried　out　into　the　passage。　　Erica　greeted　him　with　her　brightest　smile。

〃All　safe；〃　she　said；　following　him　into　the　study。　　〃He　is　well　on　his　way　to　Folkestone；　and　we　have　eluded　three　spies。〃

Then；　with　a　good　deal　of　humor；　she　related　the　whole　of　the　adventure；　at　the　same　time　taking　off　her　hat　and　gloves。

〃And　you　met　no　one　you　knew？〃　asked　Raeburn。

〃Only　the　bishop　who　baptized　and　confirmed　me　this　evening；　and　he　of　course　did　not　recognize　me。〃

As　she　spoke；　she　unbuttoned　her　ulster；　disclosing　beneath　it　her　white　serge　dress。

Raeburn　sighed。　　Words　and　sight　both　reawakened　a　grief　which　he　would　fain　have　put　from　him。

But　Erica　came　and　sat　down　on　the　hearth　rug；　and　nestled　up　to　him　just　as　usual。　〃I　am　so　tired；　padre　mio！〃　she　exclaimed。　　But　it　has　been　well　worth　it。〃

Raeburn　did　not　answer。　　She　looked　up　in　his　face。

〃What　are　you　thinking？〃

〃I　was　thinking　that　few　people　had　such　an　ending　to　their　confirmation　day；〃　said　Raeburn。　　

〃I　thank　God　for　it；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Oh；　father！　　There　is　so　much；　so　very　much　we　still　have　in　common！　　And　I　am　so　glad　this　happened　tonight　of　all　nights！〃

He　stroked　her　hair　caressingly；　but　did　not　speak。


CHAPTER　XXIV。　The　New　Relations

For　all　men　live　and　judge　amiss　Whose　talents　jump　not　just　with　his。　　Hudibras

Comfortable　moles；　whom　what　they　do　Teaches　the