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〃He is wide awake；〃 said Tom； 〃and talking to the professor。 Just look here； I couldn't help fetching you down did you ever see such a speech in your life？ A regular brick he must be！〃
He held an evening paper in his hand。 Erica remembered that the debate was to be on a question affecting all free…thinkers。 During the discussion of this； some one had introduced a reference to the Hyde Park meeting and to Mr。 Raeburn； and had been careful not to lose the opportunity of making a spiteful and misleading remark about the apostle of atheism。 Tom hurried her through this； however； to the speech that followed it。
〃Wait a minute；〃 she said。 〃Who is Mr。 Farrant？ I never heard of him before。〃
〃Member for Greyshot； elected last spring； don't you remember？ One of the by…elections。 Licked the Tories all to fits。 This is his maiden speech； and that makes it all the more plucky of him to take up the cudgels in our defense。 Here！ Let me read it to you。〃
With the force of one who is fired with a new and hearty admiration； he read the report。 The speech was undoubtedly a fine one； it was a grand protest against intolerance； a plea for justice。 The speaker had not hesitated for an instant to raise his voice in behalf of a very unpopular cause； and his generous words； even when read through the medium of an indifferent newspaper report； awoke a strange thrill in Erica's heart。 The utter disregard of self； the nobility of the whole speech struck her immensely。 The man who had dared to stand up for the first time in Parliament and speak thus； must be one in a thousand。 Presently came the most daring and disinterested touch of all。
〃The honorable member for Rilchester made what I can not but regard as a most misleading and unnecessary remark with reference to the recent occurrence in Hyde Park； and to Mr。 Raeburn。 I listened to it with pain； for； if there can be degrees in the absolute evil of injustice and lack of charity； it seems to me that the highest degree is reached in that uncharitableness which tries to blacken the character of an opponent。 Since the subject has been introduced； the House will； I hope； bear with me if for the sake of justice I for a moment allude to a personal matter。 Some years ago I myself was an atheist； and I can only say that； speaking now from the directly opposite standpoint； I can still look back and thank Mr。 Raeburn most heartily for the good service he did me。 He was the first man who ever showed me； by words and example combined； that life is only noble when lived for the race。 The statement made by the honorable member for Rilchester seems to me as incorrect as it was uncalled for。 Surely this assembly will best prove its high character not by loud religious protestations； not by supporting a narrow； Pharisaical measure； but by impartiality； by perfect justice； by the manifestation in deed and word of that broad…hearted charity； that universal brotherliness； which alone deserves the name of Christianity。〃
The manifestation of the speaker's generosity and universal brotherliness came like a light to Erica's darkness。 It did not end her struggle； but it did end her despair。 A faint； indefinable hope rose in her heart。
Mr。 Farrant's maiden speech made a considerable stir； it met with some praise and much blame。 Erica learned from one of the papers that he was Mr。 Donovan Farrant； and at once felt convinced that he was the 〃Donovan〃 whom both Charles Osmond and Brian had mentioned to her。 She seemed to know a good deal about him。 Probably they had never told her his surname because they knew that some day he would be a public character。 With instinctive delicacy she refrained from making any reference to his speech； or any inquiry as to his identity with the 〃Donovan〃 of whose inner life she had heard。 Very soon after that； too； she went down to the sea side with her father； and when they came back to town the Osmonds had gone abroad； so it was not until the autumn that they again met。
Her stay at Codrington wonderfully refreshed her； it was the first time in her life that she had taken a thorough holiday； with change of scene and restful idleness to complete it。 The time was outwardly uneventful enough； but her father grew strong in body and she grew strong in mind。
One absurd little incident she often laughed over afterward。 It happened that in the 〃On…looker〃 there was a quotation from some unnamed medieval writer； she and her father had a discussion as to whom it could be； Raeburn maintaining that it was Thomas a Kempis。 Wishing to verify it； Erica went to a bookseller's and asked for the 〃Imitation of Christ。〃 A rather prim…looking dame presided behind the counter。
〃We haven't that book； miss；〃 she said； 〃it's quite out of fashion now。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Erica； greatly amused。 〃It must be quite out of fashion； for I scarcely know half a dozen people who practice it。〃 However； a second shop appeared to think differently； for it had Thomas a Kempis in every conceivable size； shape； and binding。 Erica bought a little sixpenny copy and went back to the beach； where she made her father laugh over her story。
They verified the quotation； and by and by Erica began to read the book。 On the very first page she came to words which made her pause and relapse into a deep reverie。
〃But he who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ； must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ。〃
The thought linked itself in her mind with some words of John Stuart Mill's which she had heard quoted till she was almost weary of them。
〃Nor even now would it be easy； even for an unbeliever； to find a better translation for the rule of virtue from the abstract into the concrete； than to endeavor so to live that Christ would approve our life。〃
While she was still musing； a sound of piteous crying attracted her notice。 Looking up she saw a tiny child wandering along the beach； trailing a wooden spade after her； and sobbing as if her heart would break。 In a moment Erica was beside her coaxing and consoling； but at last； finding it impossible to draw forth an intelligible word from the sobs and tears； she took the little thing in her arms and carried her to her father。 Raeburn was a great child lover； and had a habit of carrying goodies in his pocket； much to the satisfaction of all the children with whom he was brought in contact。 He produced a bit of butterscotch； which restored the small maiden's serenity for a minute。
〃She must have lost her way；〃 he said； glancing from the lovely little tear…stained face to the thinly shod feet and ungloved hands of the little one。 The butterscotch had won her heart。 Presently she volunteered a remark。
〃Dolly putted on her own hat。 Dolly wanted to dig all alone。 Dolly ran away。〃
〃Where is your home？〃 asked Erica。
〃Me don't know！ Me don't know！〃 cried Dolly； bursting into tears again； and hiding her face on Raeburn's coat。 〃Father！ Father； Dolly wants father。〃
〃We will come and look for him；〃 said Erica； 〃but you must stop crying； and you know your father will be sure to come and look for you〃
At this the little one checked her tears； and looked up as if expecting to see him close by。
〃He isn't there；〃 she said； piteously。
〃Come and let us look for him；〃 said Erica。
Dolly jumped up； thrust her little hand into Erica's； and toiled up the steep beach。 They had reached the road； and Erica paused for a moment； wondering which direction they had better take； when a voice behind her made her start。
〃Why Dorothy little one we've been hunting for you everywhere！〃
Dolly let go Erica's hand； and with a glad cry rushed into the arms of a tall； dark； rather foreign…looking man； who caught her up and held her closely。
He turned to Erica and thanked her very warmly for her help。 Erica thought his face the noblest she had ever seen。
CHAPTER XIX。 At The Museum
Methought I heard one calling： 〃Child；〃 And I replied： 'My Lord！'〃 George Herbert
A favorite pastime with country children is to watch the gradual growth of the acorn into the oak tree。 They will suspend the acorn in a glass of water and watch the slow progress during long months。 First one tiny white thread is put forth； then another； until at length the glass is almost filled with a tangle of white fibers； a sturdy little stem raises itself up； and the baby tree； if it is to live； must be at once transplanted into good soil。 The process may be botanically interesting； but there is something a little sickly about it； too there is a feeling that； after all； the acorn would have done better in its natural ground hidden away in darkness。
And； if we have this feeling with regard to vegetable growth； how much more with regard to spiritual growth！ To attempt to set up the gradually awakening spirit in an apparatus where it might be the observed of all observers would be at once repulsive and presumptuous。 Happily； it is impossible。 We may trace influences and suggestions； just as we may note the rain or drought； the heat or cold that affect vegetable growth； but the actual birth is ever hidden。
To attempt even to shadow forth Erica's growth during the next year would be worse than presump