Raeburn left the room before long to get ready for his meeting, but
Erica still lingered over her new treasure, putting it down at length
with great reluctance to prepare her notebook and sharpen her pencil.
"Isn't that a delightful bit where Hiawatha was angry," she said; "it
has been running in my head all day--

"'For his heart was hot within him,
Like a living coal his heart was.'

That's what I shall feel like tonight when Mr. Randolph attacks father."

She ran upstairs to dress, and, as the door closed upon her, Mrs.
Raeburn turned to Charles Osmond with a sort of apology.

"She finds it very hard not to speak out her thoughts; it will often get
her into trouble, I am afraid."

"It is too fresh and delightful to be checked, though," said Charles
Osmond; "I assure you she has taught me many a lesson tonight."

The mother talked on almost unreservedly about the subject that was
evidently nearest her heart--the difficulties of Erica's education,
the harshness they so often met with, the harm it so evidently did the
child--till the subject of the conversation came down again much too
excited and happy to care just then for any unkind treatment. Had
she not got a Longfellow of her very own, and did not that unexpected
pleasure make up for a thousand privations and discomforts?

Yet, with all her childishness and impetuosity, Erica was womanly, too,
as Charles Osmond saw by the way she waited on her mother, thinking of
everything which the invalid could possibly want while they were gone,
brightening the whole place with her sunshiny presence. Whatever
else was lacking, there was no lack of love in this house. The tender
considerateness which softened Erica's impetuosity in her mother's
presence, the loving comprehension, between parent and child, was very
beautiful to see.

CHAPTER IV. "Supposing it is true!"

A man who strives earnestly and perseveringly to convince
others, at least convinces us that he is convinced himself.
Guesses at Truth.

The rainy afternoon had given place to a fine and starlit
night. Erica, apparently in high spirits, walked between her
father and Charles Osmond.

"Mother won't be anxious about us," she said. "She has not heard a word
about Mr. Randolph's plans. I was so afraid some one would speak
about it at tea time, and then she would have been in a fright all the
evening, and would not have liked my going."

"Mr. Randolph is bot