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第59节

we two-第59节

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 real and unusual likeness in the fight we have fought。〃

She still half hesitated。  He was a man of five…and…thirty; and she could not get over the feeling that her impulsive exclamation had been presumptuous。  He saw her uncertainty; and perhaps liked her the better for it; though the delicious naturalness; the child…like recognition of a real though scarcely known friend; had delighted him。

〃We are a little more brother and sister than the rest of the world;〃 he said; with the chivalrous manner which seemed to belong naturally to his peculiarly noble face。  〃And if I were to confess that I had not always thought of you as 'Miss Raeburn'〃

He paused; and Erica laughed。  It was absurd to stand on ceremony with this kindred spirit。

〃Have you seen the conservatory?〃 he asked。  〃Shall we come in there?  I want to hear all about the Osmonds。〃

The relief of speaking with one who knew and loved Charles Osmond; and did not; for want of real knowledge; brand him with the names of half a dozen heresies; was very great。  It was not for some time that Erica even glanced at the lovely surroundings; though she had inherited Raeburn's great love of flowers。  At last; however; an exquisite white flower attracted her notice; and she broke off in the middle of a sentence。

〃Oh; how lovely!  I never saw anything like that before。  What is it?〃

〃It is the EUCHARIS AMAZONICA;〃 replied her companion 〃About the most exquisite flower in the world; I should think the 'dove flower;' as my little ones call it。  Ir you look at it from a distance the stamens really look like doves bending down to drink。〃

〃It is perfect!  How I wish my father could see it!〃

〃We have a fairly good one at Oakdene; though not equal to this。  We must persuade you and Mr。 Raeburn to come and stay with us some day。〃

The tears came into Erica's eyes; so great was the contrast between his friendliness and the chilling discourtesy she had met with from others that evening。

〃You are very good;〃 she said。  〃If you only knew how hard it is to be treated as if one were a sort of semi…criminal!〃

〃I do know;〃 he said。  〃It was this very society which goaded me into a sort of wild rebellion years ago。  I deserved its bad opinion in a measure; and you do not; but it was unfair enough to make one pretty desperate。〃

〃If they were actual saints one might endure it;〃 cried Erica。  〃But to have such a man as my father condemned just as hearsay by people who are living lazy; wasteful lives is really too much。  I came to Greyshot expecting at least unity; at least; peace in a Christian atmosphere; and THIS is what I get。〃

Donovan listened in silence; a great sadness in his eyes。  There was a pause; then Erica continued: 〃You think I speak hotly。  I cannot help it。  I think I do not much mind what they do to me; but it is the injustice of the thing that makes one wild; and worst of all; the knowing that this is what drives people into atheism this is what dishonors the name of Christ。〃

〃You are right;〃 he replied; with a sigh; 〃that IS the worst of it。  I have come to the conclusion that to be tolerant to the intolerant is the most difficult thing in life。〃

〃You must have plenty of practice in this dreadful place;〃 said Erica。

He smiled a little。

〃Why; to be seen talking to ME will make people say all sorts of evil of you;〃 she added。  〃I wish I had thought of that before。〃

〃You wouldn't have spoken to me?〃 asked Donovan; laughing。  〃Then I am very glad it didn't occur to you。  But about that you may be quite easy; nothing could make them think much worse of me than they do already。  I began life as the black sheep of the neighborhood; and it is easier for the Ethiopian to change his skin than for a man to live down the past in public opinion。  I shall be; at any rate; the dusky gray sheep of the place to the end of my life。〃

There was no bitterness; no shade of complaint in his tone; he merely stated a fact。  Erica was amazed; she knew that he was about the only man who attempted to grapple with the evil and degradation and poverty of Greyshot。

〃You see;〃 he continued; with a bright look which seemed to raise Erica into purer atmosphere; 〃it is not the public estimation which makes a man's character。  There is one question; which I think we ought never to ask ourselves; and that is 'What will people think of me?'  It should be instead: 'How can I serve?'〃

〃But if they take away your power; how can you serve?〃

〃They can't take it away; they may check and hinder for a time; that is all。  I believe one may serve always and everywhere。〃

〃You don't mean that I can serve that roomful of enemies in there?〃

〃That is exactly what I do mean;〃 he answered; smiling a little。

In the meantime; Lady Caroline was apologizing to Mr。 Cuthbert。

〃I don't know when I have been so vexed!〃 she exclaimed。  〃It is really too bad of Mrs。 Fane…Smith。  I had no idea that the Burne…Jones angel I promised you was the daughter of that disgraceful man。  What a horrible satire; is it not?〃

〃Pray; don't apologize;〃 said Mr。 Cuthbert。  〃It was really rather amusing than otherwise; and I fancy the young lady will be in no great hurry to force her way into society again。〃

He laughed a soft; malicious; chuckling laugh。

〃I should hope not; indeed;〃 said Lady Caroline; indignantly。  〃Where has she disappeared to?〃

〃Need you ask?〃 said Mr。 Cuthbert; smiling。  〃Our revered member secured her at once; and has been talking to her in the conservatory for at least half an hour; hatching radical plots; I dare say; and vowing vengeance on all aristocrats。〃

〃Really it is too shocking!〃 said Lady Caroline。  〃Mr。 Farrant has no sense of what is fitting; it is a trait which I have always noticed in Radicals。  He ought; at least to have some respect for his position。〃

〃Birds of a feather flock together;〃 suggested Mr。 Cuthbert; with his malicious smile。

〃Well; I don't often defend Mr。 Farrant;〃 said Lady Caroline。  〃But he comes of a good old family; and; though a Radical; he is at least respectable。〃

Lady Caroline knew absolutely nothing about Erica; but uttered the last sentence; with its vague; far…reaching; and most damaging hint; without even a pricking of conscience。

〃You will try to rescue the M。P。?〃 asked Mr。 Cuthbert。

〃For the sake of his position; yes;〃 said Lady Caroline; entering the conservatory。

〃Oh!  Mr。 Farrant;〃 she said; with her most gracious smile; 〃I came to see whether you couldn't induce your wife to sing to us。  Now; is it true that she has given up her music?  I assure you she and I have been battling the point ever since you came up。  Can't you persuade her to give us just one song?  I am really in despair for some music。〃

〃I am afraid my wife is quite out of voice;〃 said Donovan。  〃Are there no other musical people?〃

〃Not one。  It is really most astonishing。  I was counting on Miss Fane…Smith; but she has disappointed me; and there is not another creature who will play or sing a note。  Greyshot is a terrible unmusical place。〃

〃You do not belong to Greyshot; so perhaps you may be able to come to the rescue;〃 said Donovan to Erica。  〃Scotch people can; at any rate; always play or sing their own national airs as no one else can。〃

Lady Caroline did not really in the least care whether there were music or not; but she had expressed herself very strongly; and that tiresome Mr。 Farrant had taken her at her word; and was trying to beat up recruits recruits that she did not want。  He had now; whether intentionally or not; put her in such a position that; unless she were positively rude; she must ask Erica to play or sing。

〃Have you brought any music; Miss Raeburn?〃 she asked; turning to Erica with a chilling look; as though she had just become aware of her presence。

〃I have none to bring;〃 said Erica。  〃I do not profess to sing; I only sing our own Scotch airs。〃

〃Exactly what I said!〃 exclaimed Donovan。  〃And Scotch singing of Scotch airs is like nothing else in the world。〃

Whether he mesmerized them both; or whether his stronger will and higher purpose prevailed; it would be hard to say。  Certainly Erica was quite as unwilling to sing as Lady Caroline was to favor her with a request。  Both had to yield; however; and Erica; whether she would or not; had to serve her roomful of enemies and a great deal of good it did her。

Out of the quiet conservatory they came into the heat and glare and babel of voices; Lady Caroline feeling as if she had been caught in her own trap; Erica wavering between resentful defiance and the desire to substitute Donovan's 〃How can I serve?〃 for 〃What do they think?〃

She sat down to the piano; which was in a far…away corner; and soon she had forgotten her audience altogether。  Although she had had little time or opportunity for a thorough musical education; she had great taste; and was musical by nature; she sang her national airs; as very few could have sung them; and so wild and pathetic was the air she had chosen; 〃The Flowers of the Forest;〃 that the roar of conversation at once ceased。  She knew nothing whatever about the listeners; the air had taken her back to her father's recovery at Codrington the year before。  She was singing to him once more。

The old gentleman who

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