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d resulted good not in the least understood by Raeburn； or Aunt Jean； or Tom； who merely knew that Erica was less hot and hasty than in former times； and found it more of a relief than ever to come home to her loving sympathy。
〃After all；〃 they used to say； 〃the miserable delusion hasn't been able to spoil her。〃
One day； just after the court had reassembled in the afternoon； Erica was putting the finishing touches to a very sprightly criticism on a certain political speech； when suddenly she heard the name； for which she had waited so long； called in the clerk's most sonorous tones 〃Erica Raeburn！〃
She was conscious of a sudden white flash as every face in the crowded court turned towards her； but more conscious of a strong Presence which seemed to wrap her in a calm so perfect that the disagreeable surroundings became a matter of very slight import。 Here were hostile eyes； indeed； but she was strong enough to face all the powers of evil at once。 A sort of murmur ran through the court as she entered the witness box； but she did not heed it any more than she would have heeded the murmur of the summer wind without。 She just stood there； strong in her truth and purity； able； if need be； to set a whole world at defiance。
〃Pogson's made a mistake in calling her；〃 said a briefless barrister to one of his companions in adversity； they both spent their lives in hanging about the courts； thankful when they could get a bit of 〃deviling。〃
〃Right you are！〃 replied the other； putting up his eyeglass to look at Erica； and letting it drop after a brief survey。 〃I'd bet twenty to one that girl loses him his case。 And I'm hanged if he doesn't deserve to。〃
〃Well； it is rather a brutal thing to make a man's own child give evidence against him。 Halloo！ Just look at Raeburn！ That man's either a consummate actor； or else a living impersonation of righteous anger。〃
〃No acting there；〃 replied the other； putting up his eyeglass again。 〃It's lucky dueling is a thing of the past or I expect Pogson would have a bullet in his heart before the day was over。 I don't wonder he's furious； poor fellow！ Now； then here's old Cringer working himself up into his very worst temper！〃
The whispered dialogue was interrupted for a few minutes but was continued at intervals。
〃By Jove； what a voice she's got！ The jury will be flints if they are not influenced by it。 Ah； you great brute！ I wouldn't have asked her that question for a thousand pounds！ How lovely she looks when she blushes！ He'll confuse her； though； as sure as fate。 No； not a bit of it！ That was dignified； wasn't it？ How the words rang； 'Of course not！' I say； Jack； this will be as good as a lesson in elocution for us！〃
〃Raeburn looks up at that for the first time。 Well； poor devil！ However much baited； he can； at any rate； feel proud of his daughter。〃
Then came a long pause。 For the fire of questions was so sharp that the two would not break the thread by speaking。 Once or twice some particularly irritating question was ruled by the judge to be inadmissible； upon which Mr。 Cringer looked； in a hesitatingly courteous manner； toward him； and obeyed orders with a smiling deference； then； facing round upon Erica； with a little additional venom； he visited his annoyance upon her by exerting all his unrivaled skill in endeavoring to make her contradict herself。
〃You'll make nothing of this one； Cringer；〃 one of his friends had said to him at the beginning of Erica's evidence。 And he had smiled confidently by way of reply。 All the more was he now determined not to be worsted by a young girl whom he ought to be able to put out of countenance in ten minutes。
The result of this was that； in the words of the newspaper reports； 〃the witness's evidence was not concluded when the court rose。〃 This was perhaps the greatest part of the trial to Erica。 She had hoped； not only for her own； but for her father's sake； that her evidence might all be taken in one day； and Mr。 Cringer； while really harming his own cause by prolonging her evidence； inflicted no slight punishment on the most troublesome witness he had ever had to deal with。
The next morning it all came over again with increased disagreeableness。
〃Erica always was the plucky one；〃 said Tom to his mother as they watched her enter the witness box。 〃She always did the confessing when we got into scrapes。 I only hope that brute of a Cringer won't put her out of countenance。〃
He need not have feared； though in truth Erica was tried to the utmost。 To begin with； it was one of the very hottest of the dog…days； and the court was crowded to suffocation。 This was what the public considered the most interesting day of the trial for it was the most personal one； and the English have as great a taste for personalities as the Americans though it is not so constantly gratified。 Apparently Mr。 Cringer； being a shrewd man； had managed in the night watches to calculate Erica's one vulnerable point。 She was fatally clear…headed； most aggravatingly and palpably truthful； most unfortunately fascinating； and； though naturally quick…tempered； most annoyingly self…controlled。 But she was evidently delicate。 If he could sufficiently harass and tire her； he might make her say pretty much what he pleased。
This； at least； was the conclusion at which he had arrived。 And if it was indeed his duty to the defendant to exhaust both fair means and foul in the endeavor to win him his case； then he certainly fulfilled his duty。 For six long hours； with only a brief interval for luncheon； Erica was baited； badgered； tormented with questions which in themselves were insults； assured that she had said what she had not said； tempted to say what she did not mean； involved in fruitless discussions about places and dates and； in fact； so thoroughly tortured； that most girls would long before have succumbed。 She did not succumb； but she grew whiter and whiter save when some vile insinuation brought a momentary wave of crimson across her face。
Tom listened breathlessly to the examination which went on in a constant crescendo of bitterness。
〃The plaintiff was in the habit of doing this？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Your suspicion was naturally excited； then？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Not excited？〃 incredulously。
〃Not in the least。〃
〃You are an inmate of the plaintiff's house； I believe？〃
〃I am。〃
〃But this has not always been the case？〃
〃All my life with the exception of two years。〃
〃Your reason for the two years' absence had a connection with the plaintiff's mode of life； had it not？〃
〃Not in the sense you wish to imply。 It had a connection with our extreme poverty。〃
〃Though an inmate of you father's house； you are often away from home？〃
〃No； very rarely。〃
〃Oblige me by giving a straightforward answer。 What do you mean by rarely？〃
〃Very seldom。〃
〃This is mere equivocation； will you give me a straightforward reply？〃
〃I can't make it more so；〃 said Erica； keeping her temper perfectly and replying to the nagging interrogatories。 〃Do you mean once a year； twice a year？〃 etc。； etc。； with a steady patience which foiled Mr。 Cringer effectually。 He opened a fresh subject。
〃Do you remember the 1st