f
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