mother to tell of her adventure and to say that she would
go on to Sandgale on the Monday. For, unfortunately, the next day was
Sunday, and Rose looked so aghast at the very idea of traveling then
that Erica could say nothing more though she surmised rightly enough
that Mr. Fane-Smith would have preferred even Sunday traveling to a
Sunday spent in Luke Raeburn's house. There was evidently, however, no
help for it. Rose was there, and there she must stay; all that Erica
could do was to keep her as much as might be out of Tom's way, and
to beg the others not to discuss any subjects bearing on their
anti-religious work; and since there was not the smallest temptation to
try to make Rose a convert to secularism, they were all quite willing to
avoid such topics.

But, in spite of all her care, Erica failed most provokingly that day.
To begin with, Rose pleaded a headache and would not go with her to the
early service. Erica was disappointed; but when, on coming home, she
found Rose in the dining room comfortably chatting over the fire to Tom,
who was evidently in the seventh heaven of happiness, she felt as if
she could have shaken them both. By and by she tried to give Tom a hint,
which he did not take at all kindly.

"Women never like to see another woman admired," he replied with a
sarcastic smile.

"But, Tom," she pleaded, "her father would be so dreadfully angry if he
saw the way you go on with her."

"Oh, shut up, do, about her father!" said Tom crossly. "You have crammed
him down our throats quite enough."

It was of no use to say more; but she went away feeling sore and
ruffled. She was just about to set off with Rose to Charles Osmond's
church when the door of the study was hastily opened.

"Have you seen the last 'Longstaff Mercury'?" said Raeburn in the voice
which meant that he was worried and much pressed for time.

"It was in here yesterday," said Erica.

"Then, Tom, you must have moved it," said Raeburn sharply. "It's a most
provoking thing; I specially wanted to quote from it."

"I've not touched it," said Tom. "It's those servants; they never can
leave the papers alone."

He was turning over the contents of a paper rack, evidently not in the
best of tempers. Rose sprang forward.

"Let me help," she said with one of her irresistible smiles.

Erica felt more provoked than she would have cared to own. It was very
clear that those two would never find anything.

"Look here, Erica," said Raeburn,