last long look as the train moved off, and the utter
loneliness of all that followed. Then came dimmer recollections, not
less real, but more confused; of a merry set of fellow passengers who
were going to enjoy themselves in the south of France; of a certain
little packet which her father had placed in her hand, and which proved
to be "Mill on Liberty;" of her eager perusal of the first two or three
chapters; of the many instances of the "tyranny of the majority" which
she had been able to produce, not without a certain satisfaction. And
afterward more vividly she could recall the last look at England, the
dreary arrival at Boulogne, the long weary railway journey, and the
friendly reception at Mme Lemercier's school. No one could deny that her
new life had been bravely begun.

CHAPTER VI. Paris

But we wake in the young morning when the light is breaking
forth; And look out on its misty gleams, as if the moon were
full; And the Infinite around, seems but a larger kind of
earth Ensphering this, and measured by the self-same handy
rule. Hilda among the Broken Gods.

Not unfrequently the most important years of a life, the years which
tell most on the character, are unmarked by any notable events. A
steady, orderly routine, a gradual progression, perseverance in hard
work, often do more to educate and form than a varied and eventful life.
Erica's two years of exile were as monotonous and quiet as the life
of the secularist's daughter could possibly be. There came to her, of
course, from the distance the echoes of her father's strife; but she was
far removed from it all, and there was little to disturb her mind in the
quiet Parisian school. There is no need to dwell on her uneventful life,
and a very brief description of her surroundings will be sufficient to
show the sort of atmosphere in which she lived.

The school was a large one, and consisted principally of French
provincial girls, sent to Paris to finish their education. Some of them
Erica liked exceedingly; every one of them was to her a curious and
interesting study. She liked to hear them talk about their home life,
and, above all things, to hear their simple, naive remarks about
religion. Of course she was on her honor not to enter into discussions
with them, and they regarded all English as heretics, and did not
trouble themselves to distinguish between the different grades. But
there was nothing to prevent her from observing