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