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s rather rash though to say that I should like my wheels to run down； I didn't know how terrible it is to be still。 One does so grudge all the lost time。〃
〃But you will not let this be lost time you will read。〃
〃Oh； yes； happily I can do that。 And Mrs。 McNaughton is going to give me physiology lessons； and dear old Professor Gosse has promised to come and teach me whenever he can。 He is so devoted to father； you know； I think he would do anything for me just because I am his child。 It is a comfort that father has so many real good friends。 What I do so hate though is the thought of having to be a passive verb for so long。 You've no idea how aggravating it is to lie here and listen to all that is going on； to hear of great meetings and not to be able to go； to hear of work to be done and not to be able to do it。 And I suppose one notices little things more when one is ill； for just to lie still and watch our clumsy little servant lay the table for dinner； clattering down the knives and forks and tossing down the plates； makes me actually cross。 And then they let the room get so untidy； just look at that stack of books for reviewing； and that chaos of papers in the corner。 If I could but get up for just five minutes I shouldn't mind。〃
〃Poor child；〃 said Charles Osmond； 〃this comes very hard on you。〃
〃I know I'm grumbling dreadfully； but if you knew how horrid it is to be cut off from everything！ And； of course； it happens that another controversy is beginning about that Longstaff report。 I have been reading half a dozen of today's newspapers； and each one is worse than the last。 Look here！ Just read that； and try to imagine that it's your father they are slandering！ Oh； if I could but get up for one minute and stamp！〃
〃And is this untrue？〃 asked Charles Osmond； when he had finished the account in question。
〃There is just enough truth in it to make it worse than a direct lie；〃 said Erica； hotly。 〃They have quoted his own words； but in a sense in which he never meant them； or they have quite disregarded the context。 If you will give me those books on the table； I'll just show you how they have misrepresented him by hacking out single sentences； and twisting and distorting all he says in public。〃
Charles Osmond looked at the passages referred to； and saw that Erica had not complained without reason。
〃Yes； that is very unfair shamefully unfair；〃 he said。 Then； after a pause； he added； abruptly： 〃Erica； are you good at languages？〃
〃I am very fond of them；〃 she said； surprised at the sudden turn he had given to the conversation。
〃Supposing that Mr。 Raeburn's speeches and doings were a good deal spoken of in Europe； as no doubt they are； and that a long time after his death one of his successors made some converts to secularism in Italy； and wrote in Italian all that he could remember of the life and words of his late teacher。 Then suppose that the Italian life of Raeburn was translated into Chinese； and that hundreds of years after； a heathen Chinee sat down to read it。 His Oriental mind found it hard to understand Mr。 Raeburn's thoroughly Western mind； he didn't see anything noble in Mr。 Raeburn's character； couldn't understand his mode of thought； read through the life； perhaps studied it after a fashion； or believed he did； then shut it up； and said there might possibly have been such a man； but the proofs were very weak； and； even if he had lived； he didn't think he was any great shakes； though the people did make such a fuss about him。 Would you call that heathen Chinee fair？〃
Erica could not help smiling； though she saw what he was driving at。
But Charles Osmond felt much too keenly to continue in such a light strain。 He was no weak…minded； pleasant conversationalist； but a prophet； who knew how to speak hard truths sometimes。
〃Erica；〃 he said； almost sternly； 〃you talk much about those who quote your father's words unfairly； but have you never misquoted the words of Christ？ You deny Him and disbelieve in Him； yet you have never really studied His life。 You have read the New Testament through a veil of prejudice。 Mind； I am not saying one word in defense of those so…called Christians who treat you unfairly or uncharitably； but I do say that； as far as I can see； you are quite as unfair to Christ as they are to your father。 Of course； you may reply that Jesus of Nazareth lived nearly nineteen hundred years ago； and that your father is still living； that you have many difficulties and doubts to combat； while our bigots can verify every fact or quotation with regard to Mr。 Raeburn with perfect ease and certainty。 That is true enough。 But the difficulties； if honestly faced； might be surmounted。 You don't honestly face them； you say to yourself； 'I have gone into all these matters carefully； and now I have finally made up my mind； there is an end of the matter！' You are naturally prejudiced against Christ； every day your prejudices will deepen unless you strike out resolutely for yourself as a truth…seeker； as one who insists on always considering all sides of the question。 At present you are absolutely unfair； you will not take the trouble to study the life of Christ。〃
Few people like to be told of their faults。 Erica could just endure it from her father； but from no one else。 She was； besides； too young yet to have learned even the meaning of the word humility。 Had Charles Osmond been a few years younger； she would not even have listened to him。 As it was； he was a gray…haired man； whom she loved and revered； he was； moreover； a guest。 She was very angry with him； but she restrained her anger。
He had watched her attentively while he spoke。 She had at first only been surprised； then her anger had been kindled； and she gave him one swift flash from eyes which looked like live coals。 Then she turned her face away from him； so that he could only see one crimson cheek。 There was a pause after he had said his say。 Presently； with a great effort； Erica faced him once more； and in a manner which would have been dignified had it not been a trifle too frigid； made some casual remark upon a different subject。 He saw that to stay longer was mere waste of time。
When the door had closed behind him； Erica's anger blazed up once more。 That he should have dared to accuse her of unfairness！ That he should have dared actually to rebuke her！ If he had given her a good shaking she could not have felt more hurt and ruffled。 And then to choose this day of all others； just when life was so hard to her； just when she was condemned to a long imprisonment。 It was simply brutal of him！ If any one had told her that he would do such a thing she would not have believed them。 He had said nothing of the sort to her before； though they had known each other so long； but； now that she was ill and helpless and unable to get away from him； he had seen fit to come and lecture her。 Well； he was a parson！ She might have known that sooner or later the horrid； tyrannical； priestly side of him would show！ And yet she had liked him so much； trusted him so much！ It was indescribably bitter to think that he was no longer the hero she had thought him to be。 That； after all； he was no