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ll…observing eyes； which had noticed the hungry look in the beggar child's face； noticed at once that his own child had been troubled。
〃Something has vexed you；〃 he said。 〃What is the matter； Erica？〃
〃I had rather not tell you； father； it isn't anything much；〃 said Erica； casting down her eyes as if all at once the paving stones had become absorbingly interesting。
〃I fancy I know already；〃 said Raeburn。 〃It is about your friend at the High School； is it not。 I thought so。 This afternoon I had a letter from her father。〃
〃What does he say？ May I see it？〃 asked Erica。
〃I tore it up；〃 said Raeburn； 〃I thought you would ask to see it； and the thing was really so abominably insolent that I didn't want you to。 How did you hear about it？〃
〃Gertrude wrote me a note；〃 said Erica。
〃At her father's dictation； no doubt；〃 said Raeburn； 〃I should know his style directly； let me see it。〃
〃I thought it was a pity to vex you； so I burned it；〃 said Erica。
Then； unable to help being amused at their efforts to save each other； they both laughed； though the subject was rather a sore one。
〃It is the old story；〃 said Raeburn。 〃Life only； as Pope Innocent III benevolently remarked； 'is to be left to the children of misbelievers； and that only as an act of mercy。' You must make up your mind to bear the social stigma； child。 Do you see the moral of this？〃
〃No；〃 said Erica； with something between a smile and a sigh。
〃The moral of it is that you must be content with your own people；〃 said Raeburn。 〃There is this one good point about persecution it does draw us all nearer together； really strengthens us in a hundred ways。 So； little one； you must forswear school friends； and be content with your 'very strong man Kwasind；' and we will
〃'Live in peace together Speak with naked hearts together。'
By the bye； it is rather doubtful if Tom will be able to come to the lecture tonight； do you think you can take notes for me instead？〃
This was in reality the most delicate piece of tact and consideration； for it was； of course； Erica's delight and pride to help her father。
CHAPTER II。 From Effect to Cause
Only the acrid spirit of the times； Corroded this true steel。 Longfellow。
Not Thine the bigot's partial plea； Not Thine the zealot's ban； Thou well canst spare a love of Thee Which ends in hate of man。 Whittier。
Luke Raeburn was the son of a Scotch clergyman of the Episcopal Church。 His history； though familiar to his own followers and to them more powerfully convincing than many arguments against modern Christianity； was not generally known。 The orthodox were apt to content themselves with shuddering at the mention of his name； very few troubled themselves to think or inquire how this man had been driven into atheism。 Had they done so they might； perhaps； have treated him more considerately； at any rate they must have learned that the much…disliked prophet of atheism was the most disinterested of men； one who had the courage of his opinions； a man of fearless honesty。
Raeburn had lost his mother very early； his father； a well…to…do man； had held for many years a small living in the west of Scotland。 He was rather a clever man； but one…sided and bigoted； cold…hearted； too； and caring very little for his children。 Of Luke； however； he was； in his peculiar fashion； very proud； for at an early age the boy showed signs of genius。 The father was no great worker； though shrewd and clever； he had no ambition； and was quietly content to live out his life in the retired little parsonage where； with no parish to trouble him； and a small and unexacting congregation on Sundays； he could do pretty much as he pleased。 But for his son he was ambitious。 Ever since his sixteenth yearwhen； at a public meeting the boy had； to the astonishment of every one； suddenly sprung to his feet and contradicted a false statement made by a great landowner as to the condition of the cottages on his estatethe father had foreseen future triumphs for his son。 For the speech； though unpremeditated； was marvelously clever； and there was a power in it not to be accounted for by a certain ring of indignation； it was the speech of a future orator。
Then； too； Luke had by this time shown signs of religious zeal； a zeal which his father； though far from attempting to copy； could not but admire。 His Sunday services over； he relapsed into the comfortable； easy…going life of a country gentleman for the rest of the week； but his son was indefatigable； and； though little more than a boy himself； gathered round him the roughest lads of the village； and by his eloquence； and a certain peculiar personal fascination which he retained all his life； absolutely forced them to listen to him。 The father augured great things for him； and invariably prophesied that he would 〃live to see him a bishop yet。〃
It was a settled thing that he should take Holy Orders； and for some time Raeburn was only too happy to carry out his father's plans。 In his very first term at Cambridge； however； he began to feel doubts； and； becoming convinced that he could never again accept the doctrines in which he had been educated； he told his father that he must give up all thought of taking Orders。
Now； unfortunately； Mr。 Raeburn was the very last man to understand or sympathize with any phase of life through which he had not himself passed。 He had never been troubled with religious doubts； skepticism seemed to him monstrous and unnatural。 He met the confession； which his son had made in pain and diffidence； with a most deplorable want of tact。 In answer to the perplexing questions which were put to him； he merely replied testily that Luke had been overworking himself； and that he had no business to trouble his head with matters which were beyond him； and would fain have dismissed the whole affair at once。
〃But；〃 urged the son； 〃how is it possible for me to turn my back on these matters when I am preparing to teach them？〃
〃Nonsense；〃 replied the father； angrily。 〃Have not I taught all my life； preached twice a Sunday these thirty years without perplexing myself with your questionings？ Be off to your shooting； and your golf； and let me have no more of this morbid fuss。〃
No more was said； but Luke Raeburn； with his doubts and questions shut thus into himself； drifted rapidly from skepticism to the most positive form of unbelief。 When he next came home for the long vacation； his father was at length awakened to the fact that the son； upon whom all his ambition was set； was hopelessly lost to the Church； and with this consciousness a most bitter sense of disappointment rose in his heart。 His pride； the only side of fatherhood which he possessed； was deeply wounded； and his dreams of honorable distinction were laid low。 His wrath was great。 Luke found the home made almost unbearable to him。 His college career was of course at an end； for his father would not hear of providing him with the necessary funds now that he had actually confessed his atheism。 He was hardly allowed to speak to his sisters； every request for money to start him in some profession met with a sharp refusal； and matters were becoming so desperate that he would probably ha