we two-第58章

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ooks　could　I　comfortably　house　in　here；　do　you　think？〃

〃A　good　many。　　The　room　is　high；　you　see；　and　those　two　long；　unbroken　walls　would　take　several　hundred。　　Ah！　　Here　is　the　measuring　tape。　　Now　we　can　calculate。〃

They　were　hard　at　work　measuring　when　the　door　bell　rang；　and　Tom's　voice　was　heard　in　the　passage；　asking　for　Raeburn。

〃This　way；　Tom！〃　called　Erica。　　〃Come　and　help　us！〃

But　a　laughing　reference　to　the　day　of　their　childish　disaster　died　on　her　lips　when　she　caught　sight　of　him　for　she　knew　that　something　was　wrong。　　Accustomed　all　her　life　to　live　in　the　region　of　storms；　she　had　learned　to　a　nicety　the　tokens　of　rough　weather。

〃Hazeldine　wishes　to　speak　to　you；〃　said　Tom；　turning　to　Raeburn。　　〃I　brought　him　round　here　to　save　time。〃

〃Oh！　　All　right；〃　said　Raeburn；　too　much　absorbed　in　planning　the　arrangement　of　his　treasures　to　notice　the　unusual　graveness　of　Tom's　face。　　〃Ask　him　in　here。　　Good　evening；　Hazeldine。　　You　are　the　first　to　see　us　in　our　new　quarters。〃

Hazeldine　bore　traces　of　having　lived　from　his　childhood　a　hard　but　sedentary　life。　　He　was　under…sized　and　narrow　chested。　　But　the　face　was　a　very　striking　one；　the　forehead　finely　developed；　the　features　clearly　cut；　and　the　bright；　dark　eyes　looking　out　on　the　world　with　an　almost　defiant　honesty；　a　clearness　bordering　on　hardness。

Raeburn；　entirely　putting　aside　for　the　time　his　own　affairs；　and　giving　to　his　visitor　his　whole　and　undivided　attention；　saw　in　an　instant　that　the　man　was　in　trouble。

〃Out　of　work　again？〃　he　asked。　　〃Anything　gone　wrong？〃

〃No　sir；〃　replied　Hazeldine；　〃but　I　came　round　to　ask　if　you'd　seen　that　circular　letter。　　'Twas　sent　me　this　morning　by　a　mate　of　mine　who's　lately　gone　to　Longstaff；　and　he　says　that　this　Pogson　is　sowing　them　broadcast　among　the　hands　right　through　all　the　workshops　in　the　place；　and　in　all　England；　too；　for　aught　he　knows。　　I　wouldn't　so　much　as　touch　the　dirty　thing；　only　I　thought　maybe　you　hadn't　heard　of　it。〃

Without　a　word；　Raeburn　held　out　his　hand　for　the　printed　letter。　　Erica；　standing　at　a　little　distance；　watched　the　faces　of　the　three　men　Tom；　grave；　yet　somewhat　flushed；　Hazeldine；　with　a　scornful　glitter　in　his　dark　eyes；　her　father？　　Last　of　all　she　looked　at　him　and　looking；　learned　the　full　gravity　of　this　new　trouble。　　For；　as　he　read；　Raeburn　grew　white；　with　the　marble　whiteness　which　means　that　intense　anger　has　interfered　with　the　action　of　the　heart。　　As　he　hastily　perused　the　lines；　his　eyes　seemed　to　flash　fire；　the　hand　which　still　held　the　measuring　tape　was　clinched　so　tightly　that　the　knuckle　looked　like　polished　ivory。

Erica　could　not　ask　what　was　the　matter；　but　she　came　close　to　him。　　When　he　had　finished　reading；　the　first　thing　his　eye　fell　upon　was　her　face　turned　up　to　his　with　a　mute　appeal　which；　in　spite　of　the　anxiety　in　it；　made　her　look　almost　like　a　child。　　He　shrank　back　as　she　held　out　her　hand　for　the　letter；　it　was　so　foul　a　libel　that　it　seemed　intolerable　to　him　that　his　own　child　should　so　much　as　read　a　line　of　it。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked　at　length；　speaking　with　difficulty。

〃A　filthy　libel　circulated　by　that　liar　Pogson！　　A　string　of　lies　invented　by　his　own　evil　brain！　　Why　should　I　keep　it　from　you？　　It　is　impossible！　　The　poisonous　thing　is　sown　broadcast　through　the　land。　　You　are　of　age　there　read　it；　and　see　how　vile　a　Christian　can　be！〃

He　was　writhing　under　the　insult；　and　was　too　furious　to　measure　his　words。　　It　was　only　when　he　saw　Erica's　brave　lip　quiver　that　he　felt　with　remorse　that　he　had　doubled　her　pain。

She　had　turned　a　little　away　from　him；　ostensibly　to　be　nearer　to　the　gas；　but　in　reality　that　he　might　not　see　the　crimson　color　which　surged　up　into　her　face　as　she　read。　　Mr。　Pogson　was　as　unscrupulous　as　fanatics　invariably　are。　　With　a　view　of　warning　the　public　and　inducing　them　to　help　him　in　crushing　the　false　doctrine　he　abhorred；　he　had　tried　to　stimulate　them　by　publishing　a　sketch　of　Raeburn's　personal　character　and　life；　drawn　chiefly　from　his　imagination；　or　from　distorted　and　misquoted　anecdotes　which　had　for　years　been　bandied　about　among　his　opponents；　losing　nothing　in　the　process。　　Hatred　of　the　man　Luke　Raeburn　was　his　own　great　stimulus；　and　we　are　apt　to　judge　others　by　ourselves。　　The　publication　of　this　letter　really　seemed　to　him　likely　to　do　great　good；　and　the　evil　passions　of　hatred　and　bigotry　had　so　inflamed　his　mind；　that　it　was　perfectly　easy　for　him　to　persuade　himself　that　the　statements　were　true。　　Indeed；　he　only　followed　with　the　multitude　to　do　evil　in　this　instance；　for　not　one　in　a　thousand　took　the　trouble　to　verify　their　facts；　or　even　their　quotations；　when　speaking　of；　or　quoting　Raeburn。　　The　libel；　to　put　it　briefly；　represented　Raeburn　as　a　man　who　had　broken　every　one　of　the　ten　commandments。

Erica　　read　steadily　on；　though　every　pulse　in　her　beat　at　double　time。　　It　was　long　before　she　finished　it；　for　a　three…fold　chorus　was　going　on　in　her　brain　Mr。　Pogson's　libelous　charges；　the　talk　between　her　father　and　Hazeldine；　which　revealed　all　too　plainly　the　harm　already　done　to　the　cause　of　Christianity　by　this　one　unscrupulous　man；　and　her　own　almost　despairing　cry　to　the　Unseen：　〃Oh；　Father！　　How　is　he　ever　to　learn　to　know　Thee；　when　such　things　as　these　are　done　in　Thy　name？〃

That　little　sheet　of　paper　had　fallen　among　them　like　a　thunderbolt。

〃I　have　passed　over　a　great　deal；〃　Raeburn　was　saying　when　Erica　looked　up　once　more。　　〃But　I　shall　not　pass　over　this！　　Pogson　shall　pay　dearly　for　it！　　Many　thanks；　Hazeldine；　for　bringing　me　word；　I　shall　take　steps　about　it　at　once。〃

He　left　the　room　quickly；　and　in　another　minute　they　heard　the　street　door　close　behind　him。

〃That　means　an　action　for　libel；〃　said　Tom；　knitting　his　brows。　　〃And　goodness　only　knows　what　fearful　work　and　worry　for　the　chieftain。〃

〃But　good　to　the　cause　in　the　long　run；〃　said　Hazeldine。　　〃And　as　for　Mr。　Raeburn；　he　only　rises　the　higher　the　more　they　try　to　crush　him。　　He's　like　the　bird　that　rises　out　of　its　own　ashes　the　phenix；　don't　they　call　it？〃

Erica　smiled　a　little　at　the　comparison；　but　sadly。

〃Don't　judge　Christianity　by　this　one　bad　specimen；〃　she　said；　as　she　shook　hands　with　Hazeldine。　

〃How　do　Christians　judge　us；　Miss　Erica？〃　he　replied；　sternly。

〃Then　be　more　just　than　you　think　they　are　as　generous　as　you　would　have　them　be。〃

〃It's　but　a　working…day　world；　miss；　and　I'm　but　a　working…day　man。　　I　can't　set　up　to　be　generous　to　them　who　treat　a　man　as　though　he　was　the　dirt　in　the　street。　　And　if　you　will　excuse　me　mentioning　it；　miss；　I　could　wish　that　this　shameful　treatment　would　show　to　you　what　a　delusion　it　is　you've　taken　up　of　late。〃

〃Mr。　Pogson　can　hurt　me　very　much；　but　not　so　fatally　as　that；〃　said　Erica；　as　much　to　herself　as　to　Hazeldine。

When　he　had　gone　she　picked　up　the　measure　once　more；　and　turned　to　Tom。

〃Help　me　just　to　finish　this；　Tom；〃　she　said。　　〃We　must　try　to　move　in　as　quickly　as　may　be。〃

Tom　silently　took　the　other　end　of　the　tape；　and　they　set　to　work　again；　but　all　the　enjoyment　in　the　new　house　seemed　quenched　and　destroyed　by　that　blast　of　calumny。　　They　knew　only　too　well　that　this　was　but　the　beginning　of　troubles。

Raeburn；　remembering　his　hasty　speech；　called　Erica　into　the　study　the　moment　he　heard　her　return。　　He　was　still　very　pale；　and　with　a　curiously　rigid　look　about　his　face。

〃I　was　right；　you　see；　in　my　prophecy　of　rocks　ahead；〃　he　exclaimed；　throwing　down　his　pen。　　〃You　have　come　home　to　a　rough　time；　Erica；　and　to　an　overharassed　father。〃

〃The　more　harassed　the　father；　the　more　reason　that　he　should　have　a　child　to　help　him；〃　said　Erica；　sitting　down　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；　and　putting　back　the　masses　of　white　hair　which　hung　over　his　forehead。

〃Oh；　child！〃　he　said；　with　a　sigh；　〃if　I　can　but　keep　a　cool　head　and　a　broad　heart　through　the　years　of　trouble　before　us！〃

〃Years！〃　exclaimed　Erica；　dismayed。

〃This　affair　may　drag　on　almost　indefinitely；　and　a　personal　strife　is　apt　to　be　lowering。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Erica；　musingly；　〃to　be　libeled　does　set　one's　back　up　dreadfully；　and　to　be　much　praised　humbles　one　to　the　very　dust。〃

〃What　will　the　Fane…Smiths　say　to　this？　　Will　they　believe　it　of　me？〃

〃I　can't　tell；〃　said　Erica；　hesitatingly。

〃'He　that's　evil　deemed　is　half　hanged；'〃　said　Raeburn　bitterly。　　〃Never　was　there　a　truer　saying　than　that。〃

〃'Blaw　the　wind　ne'er　so　fast；　it　will　lown　at　the　last'〃　quoted　Erica；　smiling。　　〃Equally　true；　PADRE　MIO。〃

〃Yes；　dear；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃but　not　in　my　life　time。　　You　see　if　I　let　this　pass；　the　lies　will　be　circulated；　and　they'll　say　I　can't　contradict　them。　　If　I　bring　an　action　against　the　fellow；　people　will　say　I　do　it　to　flaunt　my　opinions　in　the　face　of　the　public。　　As　your　hero　Livingstone　once　remarked；　'Isn't　it　interesting　to　get　blamed　for　everything？'　　However；　we　must　make　the　best　of　it。　　How　about　the　new　house？　　When　can　we　settle　in？　　I　feel　a　longing　for　that　study　with　its　twenty…two　feet　o'　length　for　pacing！〃

〃What　are　your　engagements？〃　she　asked；　taking　up　a　book　from　the　table。　　〃Eleventh；　Newcastle；　12th；　Nottingham；　13th　and　14th；　Plymouth。　　Let　me　see；　that　will　bring　you　home　on　Monday；　the　15th；　and　will　leave　us　three　clear　days　to　get　things　straight；　that　will　do　capitally。〃

〃And　you'll　be　sure　to　see　that　the　books　are　carefully　moved；〃　said　Raeburn。　　〃I　can't　have　the　markers　displaced。〃

Erica　laughed。　　Her　father　had　a　habit　of　putting　candle　lighters　in　his　books　to　mark　places　for　references；　and　the　appearance　of　the　book　shelves　all　bristling　with　them　had　long　been　a　family　joke；　more　especially　as；　if　a　candle　lighter　happened　to　be　wanted　for　its　proper　purpose；　there　was　never　one　to　be　found。

〃I　will　pack　them　myself；〃　she　said。


CHAPTER　XXXI。　Brian　as　Avenger

A　paleness　took　the　poet's　cheek；　〃Must　I　drink　here？〃　he　seemed　to　seek　The　lady's　will　with　utterance　meek。

〃Ay；　ay；〃　she　said；　〃it　so　must　be；〃　（And　this　time　she　spake　cheerfully）　〃Behooves　thee　know　world's　cruelty。〃　　E。　B。　Browning

The　trial　of　Luke　Raeburn；　on　the　charge　of　having　published　a　blasphemous　libel　in　a　pamphlet　entitled　〃Bible　Miracles；〃　came　on　in　the　Court　of　Queen's　Bench　early　in　December。　　It　excited　a　great　deal　of　interest。　　Some　people　hoped　that　the　revival　of　an　almost　obsolete　law　would　really　help　to　check　the　spread　of　heterodox　views；　and　praised　Mr。　Pogson　for　his　energy　and　religious　zeal。　　These　were　chiefly　well…meaning　folks；　not　much　given　to　the　study　of　precedents。　　Some　people　of　a　more　liberal　turn　read　the　pamphlet　in　question；　and　were　surprised　to　see　that　matter　quite　as　heterodox　might　be　found　in　many　high…class　reviews　which　lay　about　on　drawing　room　tables；　the　only　difference　being　that　the　articles　in　the　reviews　were　written　in　somewhat　ambiguous　language　by　fashionable　agnostics；　and　that　〃Bible　Miracles〃　was　a　plain；　blunt；　sixpenny　tract；　avowedly　written　for　the　people　by　the　people's　tribune。

This　general　interest　and　attention；　once　excited；　gave　rise　to　the　following　results：　to　an　indiscriminate　and　wholesale　condemnation　of　〃that　odious　Raeburn　who　was　always　seeking　notoriety；〃　to　an　immense　demand　for