I scorn the allegator 〃
He was interrupted by a shout of laughter； the whole assembly was convulsed； even Erica's anger changed to mirth。
〃Fit for 'Punch；'〃 she whispered to Brian； her face all beaming with merriment。
Raeburn； whose grave face had also relaxed into a smile； suddenly stood up； and； with a sort of dry Scotch humor； remarked：
〃My enemies have compared me to many obnoxious things； but never till tonight have I been called a crocodile。 Possibly Mr。 Randolph has been reading of the crocodiles recently dissected at Paris。 It has been discovered that they are almost brainless； and； being without reason； are probably animated by a violent instinct of destruction。 I believe； however； that the power of their 'jaw' is unsurpassed。〃
Then； amid shouts of laughter and applause； he sat down again； leaving the field to the much discomfited Mr。 Randolph。
Much harm had been done that evening to the cause of Christianity。 The sympathies of the audience could not be with the weak and unmannerly Mr。 Randolph； they were Englishmen； and were； of course； inclined to side with the man who had been unjustly dealt with； who； moreover； had really spoken to themhad touched their very hearts。
The field was practically lost when； to the surprise of all； another speaker came forward。 Erica； who knew that their side had had the best of it； felt a thrill of admiration when she saw Charles Osmond move slowly to the front of the platform。 She was very tired； but out of a sort of gratitude for his friendliness； a readiness to do him honor； she strained her energies to take down his speech verbatim。 It was not a long one； it was hardly； perhaps； to be called a speech at all； it was rather as if the man had thrown his very self into the breach made by the unhappy wrangle of the evening。
He spoke of the universal brotherhood and of the wrong done to it by bitterness and strife； he stood there as the very incarnation of brotherliness； and the people； whether they agreed with him or not； loved him。 In the place where the religion of Christ had been reviled as well by the Christians as by the atheist； he spoke of the revealer of the Father； and a hush fell on the listening men； he spoke of the Founder of the great brotherhood； and by the very reality； by the fervor of his convictions； touched a new chord in many a heart。 It was no time for argument； the meeting was almost over； he scarcely attempted to answer to many of the difficulties and objections raised by Raeburn earlier in the evening。 But there was in his ten minutes' speech the whole essence of Christianity； the spirit of loving sacrifice to self； the strength of an absolute certainty which no argument； however logical； can shake； the extraordinary power which breathes in the assertion： 〃I KNOW Him whom I have believed。〃
To more than one of Raeburn's followers there came just the slightest agitation of doubt； the questioning whether these things might not be。 For the first time in her life the question began to stir in Erica's heart。 She had heard many advocates of Christianity； and had regarded them much as we might regard Buddhist missionaries speaking of a religion that had had its day and was now only fit to be discarded； or perhaps studied as an interesting relic of the past； about which in its later years many corruptions had gathered。
Raeburn； being above all things a just man； had been determined to give her mind no bias in favor of his own views； and as a child he had left her perfectly free。 But there was a certain Scotch proverb which he did not call to mind； that 〃As the auld cock crows the young cock learns。〃 When the time came at which he considered her old enough really to study the Bible for herself； she had already learned from bitter experience that Christianityat any rate； what called itself Christianitywas the religion whose votaries were constantly slandering and ill…treating her father； and that all the privations and troubles of their life were directly or indirectly due to it。 She； of course； identified the conduct of the most unfriendly and persecuting with the religion itself； it could hardly be otherwise。
But tonight as she toiled away； bravely acting up to her lights； taking down the opponent's speech to the best of her abilities； though predisposed to think it all a meaningless rhapsody； the faintest attempt at a question began to take shape in her mind。 It did not form itself exactly into words； but just lurked there like a cloud…shadow〃supposing Christianity were true？〃
All doubt is pain。 Even this faint beginning of doubt in her creed made Erica dreadfully uncomfortable。 Yet she could not regret that Charles Osmond had spoken； even though she imagined him to be greatly mistaken； and feared that that uncomfortable question might have been suggested to others among the audience。 She could not wish that the speech had not been made； for it had revealed the nobility of the man； his broad…hearted love； and she instinctively reverenced all the really great and good； however widely different their creeds。
Brian tried in vain to read her thoughts； but as soon as the meeting was over her temporary seriousness vanished； and she was once more almost a child again； ready to be amused by anything。 She stood for a few minutes talking to the two Osmonds； then； catching sight of an acquaintance a little way off； she bade them a hasty good night； much to Brian's chagrin； and hurried forward with a warmth of greeting which he could only hope was appreciated by the thickset； honest…looking mechanic who was the happy recipient。 When they left the hall she was still deep in conversation with him。
The fates were kind； however； to Brian that day； they were just too late for a train； and before the next one arrived； Raeburn and Erica were seen slowly coming down the steps； and in another minute had joined them on the platform。 Charles Osmond and Raeburn fell into an amicable discussion； and Brian； to his great satisfaction； was left to an uninterrupted tete…a…tete with Erica。 There had been no further demonstration by the crowd； and Erica； now that the anxiety was over； was ready to make fun of Mr。 Randolph and his band； checking herself every now and then for fear of hurting her companion； but breaking forth again and again into irresistible merriment as she recalled the 〃alligator〃 incident and other grotesque utterances。 All too soon they reached their destination。 There was still； however； a ten minutes' walk before them； a walk which Brian never forgot。 The wind was high； and it seemed to excite Erica； he could always remember exactly how she looked； her eyes bright and shining； her short； auburn hair； all blown about by the wind； one stray wave lying across the quaint little sealskin hat。 He remembered； too； how； in the middle of his argument； Raeburn had stepped forward and had wrapped a white woolen scarf more closely round the child； securing the fluttering ends。 Brian would have liked to do it himself had he dared； and yet it pleased him； too； to see the father's thoughtfulness； perhaps in that 〃touch of nature；〃 he； for the first time； fully recognized his kinship with the atheist。
Erica talked to him in the meantime with a delicious； childlike frankness； gave him an enthusiastic account of her friend； Hazeldine； the working man whom he had seen her speaking to； and unconsciously reveled in her free conversation a great deal of the life she led； a busy； earnest； self…denying life Brian could see。 When they reached the place of their afternoon's encounter； she alluded merrily to what she called the 〃charge of umbrellas。〃
〃Who would have thought； now； that in a few hours' time we should have learned to know each other！〃 she exclaimed。 〃It has been altogether the very oddest day； a sort of sandwich of good and bad； two bits of the dry bread of persecution； put in between； you and Mr。 Osmond and my beautiful new Longfellow。〃
Brian could not help laughing at the simile； and was not a little pleased to hear the reference to his book； but his amusement was soon dispelled by a grim little incident。 Just at that minute they happened to pass an undertaker's cart which was standing at the door of one of the houses； a coffin was born across the pavement in front of them。 Erica； with a quick exclamation； put her hand on his arm and shrank back to make room for the bearers to pass。 Looking down at her； he saw that she was quite pale。 The coffin was carried into the house and they passed on。
〃How I do hate seeing anything like that！〃 she exclaimed。 Then looking back and up to the windows of the house： 〃Poor people！ I wonder whether they are very sad。 It seems to make all the world dark when one comes across such things。 Father thinks it is good to be reminded of the end； that it makes one more eager to work； but he doesn't even wish for anything after death； nor do any of the best people I know。 It is silly of me； but I never can bear to think of quite coming to an end； I suppose because I am not so unselfish as the others。〃
〃Or may it not be a natural instinct； which is implanted in all； which perhaps you have not yet crushed by argument。〃
Erica shook her head。
〃More likely to be a little bit of one of my covenanting ancestors coming out in me。 Still； I own that the hope of the hereafter is the one point in which you have the better of it。 Life must seem very easy if you believe that all will be made up to you and all wrong set right after you are dead。 You see we have rather hard measure here； and don't expect anything at all by and by。 But all the same； I am always rather ashamed of this instinct； or selfishness； or Scottish inheritance； whichever it is！〃
〃Ashamed！ Why should you be？〃
〃It is a sort of weakness； I think； which strong characters like my father are without。 You see he cares so much for every one； and thinks so much of making the world a little less miserable in this generation； but most of my love is for him and for my mother； and so when I think of deathof their death〃 she broke off abruptly。
〃Yet do not call it selfishness；〃 said Brian； with a slightly choked feeling； for there had been a depth of pain in Erica's tone。 〃My father； who has just that love of humanity of wh