led a good deal at
the intrusion of what he called the "rabble" into quiet Oakdene.

"That's the worst of such men as Farrant," he used to say. "They begin
by rushing to one extreme, and end by rushing to the other. Such a want
of steady conservative balance! He's a good man; but, poor fellow, he'll
never be like other people, never!"

Mrs. Ward was almost inclined to think that he had been less obnoxious
in the old times. As a professed atheist, he could be shunned and
ignored, but his uncomfortably practical Christianity had a way of
shaking up the sleepy neighborhood, and the neighborhood did not at all
like being shaken!

CHAPTER XXIX. Greyshot Again

To what purpose do you profess to believe in the unity of
the human race, which is the necessary consequence of the
unity of God, if you do not strive to verify it by
destroying the arbitrary divisions and enmities that still
separate the different tribes of humanity? Why do we talk
of fraternity while we allow any of our brethren to be
trampled on, degraded or despised? The earth is our
workshop. We may not curse it, we are bound to sanctify it.
... We must strive to make of humanity one single family.
Mazzini

Erica's appearance at Lady Caroline's dinner party had caused a sort
of storm in a tea cup; the small world of Greyshot was in a state
of ferment, and poor Mrs. Fane-Smith suffered a good deal from the
consciousness that she and her family were the subject of all the gossip
of the place. Her little expedients had failed, and she began to reflect
ruefully that perfect sincerity, plain honesty, would have been the best
policy, after all. By the time that a week had passed, however, censure
and harsh comments began to give place to curiosity, and the result
of this was that on Monday, which was Mrs. Fane-Smith's "at home" day,
Greyshot found it convenient to call in large numbers.

Erica, returning from Oakdene in the afternoon, found her work awaiting
her. Her heart beat rather quickly when, on entering the drawing room
she found it full of visitors; she half smiled to herself to find such
an opportunity of beginning Donovan's work. And very bravely she set
about it. Those who had come from curiosity not unmixed with malice were
won in spite of themselves; even Mr. Cuthbert, who bore down upon her
with the full intention of making her uncomfortable, found himself
checkmated as effectually as at Lady