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ever； 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 limit of the just and true。 （And for such doing they require not eyes）。 Matthew Arnold
One bright afternoon about a week after this； Erica found herself actually in the train； and on her way to Greyshot。 At first she had disliked the idea； but her father had evidently wished her to accept the invitation； and a hope of uniting again the two families would have stimulated her to a much more formidable undertaking than a visit of a few weeks to perfect strangers。 She knew nothing of the proposal made to her father； her own letter had been most kind； and after all； though she did not like the actual leaving home； she could not but look forward to a rest and change after the long summer months in town。 Moreover； Aunt Jean had just returned； after a brief holiday； and the home atmosphere for the last two or three days had been very trying； she felt as if a change would make her better able to bear the small daily frets and annoyances； and not unnaturally looked forward to the delicious rest of unity。 A Christian home ought to be delightful； she had never stayed in one； and had a high ideal。
It was about six o'clock by the time she reached her journey's end； and； waiting for her on the platform； she had no difficulty in recognizing her aunt； a taller and fairer edition of Mrs。 Craigie； who received her with a kind； nervous diffident greeting； and seemed very anxious indeed about her luggage； which was speedily brought to light by the footman； and safely conveyed to the carriage。 Erica； used to complete independence； felt as if she were being transformed into a sort of grown…up baby； as she was relieved of her bag and umbrella and guided down the steps； and assisted into the open landau； and carefully tucked in with a carriage rug。
〃I hope you are not overtired with the journey？〃 inquired her aunt with an air of the kindest and most anxious solicitude。
Accustomed to a really hard life in London； Erica almost laughed at the idea of being overtired by such a short journey。
〃Oh； I have enjoyed it； thank you；〃 she replied。 〃What a lovely line it is！〃
〃Is it？〃 said her aunt； a little surprised。 〃I didn't know it was considered specially pretty； and I myself am never able to look much at the scenery in traveling； it always gives me a headache。〃
〃What a pity！〃 said Erica。 〃It is such a treat； I think。 In fact； it is the only way in which I have seen what people call scenery。 I never stayed in the country in my life。〃
〃My dear； is it possible；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Fane…Smith； in a horrified voice。 〃Yet you do not look pale。 Do you mean that you have spent your whole life in town？〃
〃I was at Paris for two years；〃 said Erica； 〃and twice I have spent a little time at the sea…side； and； years and years ago； father was once taken ill at Southampton； and we went to him there that was almost like the country I mean； one could get country walks。 It was delightful； there was a splendid avenue； you know； and oh； such a common！ It was in the spring time。 I shall never forget the yellow gorse and the hawthorns； and such beautiful velvety grass。〃
Her enthusiasm pleased her aunt； moreover； it was a great relief to find the unknown niece well…bred and companionable； and not overburdened with shyness。 Already Mrs。 Fane…Smith loved her； and felt that the invitation； which she had given really from a strong sense of duty； was likely to give her pleasure instead of discomfort。 All the way home； while Erica admired the Greyshot streets； and asked questions about the various buildings； Mrs。 Fane…Smith was rejoicing that so fair a 〃brand；〃 as she mentally expressed it； had been 〃plucked from the burning；〃 and resolving that she would adopt her as a second daughter； and； if possible； induce her to take their name and drop the notorious 〃Raeburn。〃 The relief was great； for on the way to the station； Mrs。 Fane… Smith had been revolving the unpleasant thought in her mind that 〃really there was no knowing； Erica might be 'anything' since her mother was a 'nobody。'〃
At last they drew up before a large house in the most fashionable of the Greyshot squares； the windows and balconies of which were gay with flowers。
〃We shall find Rose at home； I expect；〃 said Mrs。 Fane…Smith； leading Erica across a marble…paved hall； and even as she spoke a merry voice came from the staircase； and down ran a fair…haired girl； with a charmingly eager and naive manner。
Erica had guessed what she must be from the quaint and kindly meant letter which she had sent her years before； and though five years in society had somewhat artificialized Rose； she still retained much of her childishness and impetuous honesty。 She slipped her arm into her cousin's； and took her off to her room at once。
〃I am so glad you have come！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I have been longing to see you for years and years。 Mamma has been talking so much about your cleverness and my stupidity that just at the last I felt quite in a fright lest you should be too dreadfully 'blue。' I looked out of the drawing room window for you； and if you had been very forbidding I should have received you in state in the drawing room； but you were so charmingly pretty that I was obliged to rush down headlong to meet you。〃
Erica laughed and blushed； not being used to such broad compliments。 In the meantime； they had traversed several flights of stairs； and Rose； opening a door； showed her into a spacious bedroom； most luxuriously fitted up。
〃This great big room for me！〃 exclaimed Erica。
〃It isn't at all ghostly；〃 said Rose； reassuringly。 〃Will you be afraid if you have a night light？〃
Erica laughed at the idea of being afraid； she was merely amused to think of herself established in such a palatial bedroom； such a contrast to the little book…lined room at home。 There was a dainty little book case here； however； with some beautifully bound books； and in another minute she was delightedly scanning their titles； and； with a joyous exclamation； had caught up Browning's 〃Christmas…eve and Easter…day；〃 when a sound of dismay from her cousin made her laughingly put it down again。
〃Oh