按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ter and watch the slow progress during long months。 First one tiny white thread is put forth； then another； until at length the glass is almost filled with a tangle of white fibers； a sturdy little stem raises itself up； and the baby tree； if it is to live； must be at once transplanted into good soil。 The process may be botanically interesting； but there is something a little sickly about it； too there is a feeling that； after all； the acorn would have done better in its natural ground hidden away in darkness。
And； if we have this feeling with regard to vegetable growth； how much more with regard to spiritual growth！ To attempt to set up the gradually awakening spirit in an apparatus where it might be the observed of all observers would be at once repulsive and presumptuous。 Happily； it is impossible。 We may trace influences and suggestions； just as we may note the rain or drought； the heat or cold that affect vegetable growth； but the actual birth is ever hidden。
To attempt even to shadow forth Erica's growth during the next year would be worse than presumptuous。 As to her outward life it was not greatly changed； only intensified。 October always began their busiest six months。 There was the night school at which she was able to work again indefatigably。 There were lectures to be attended。 Above all there was an ever…increasing amount of work to be done for her father。 In all the positive and constructive side of secularism； in all the efforts made by it to better humanity； she took an enthusiastic share。 Naturally she did not see so much of Charles Osmond now that she was strong again。 In the press of business； in the hard； every…day life there was little time for discussion。 They met frequently； but never for one of their long tete…a…tetes。 Perhaps Erica purposely avoided them。 She was strangely different now from the little impetuous girl who had come to his study years ago； trembling with anger at the lady superintendent's insult。 Insults had since then； alas； become so familiar to her； that she had acquired a sort of patient dignity of endurance； infinitely sad to watch in such a young girl。
One morning in early June； just a year after the memorable Hyde Park meeting； Charles Osmond happened to be returning from the death bed of one of his parishioners when； at the corner of Guilford Square； he met Erica。 It might have been in part the contrast with the sad and painful scene he had just quitted； but he thought she had never before looked so beautiful。 Her face seemed to have taken to itself the freshness and the glow of the summer morning。
〃You are early abroad；〃 he said； feeling older and grayer and more tired than ever as he paused to speak to her。
〃I am off to the museum to read；〃 she said； 〃I like to get there by nine； then you don't have to wait such an age for your books； I can't bear waiting。〃
〃What are you at work upon now？〃
〃Oh； today for the last time I am going to hunt up particulars about Livingstone。 Hazeldine was very anxious that a series of papers on his life should be written for our people。 What a grand fellow he was！〃
〃I heard a characteristic anecdote of him the other day；〃 said Charles Osmond。 〃He was walking beside one of the African lakes which he had discovered； when suddenly there dawned on him a new meaning to long familiar words： 'The blood of Christ；' he exclaimed。 'That must be Charity！ The blood of Christ that must be Charity！' A beautiful thought； too seldom practically taught。〃
Erica looked grave。
〃Characteristic； certainly； of his broad…heartedness； but I don't think that anecdote will do for the readers of the 'Idol…Breaker。'〃 Then； looking up at Charles Osmond； she added in a rather lower tone： 〃Do you know； I had no idea when I began what a difficult task I had got。 I thought in such an active life as that there would be little difficulty in keeping the religious part away from the secular； but it is wonderful how Livingstone contrives to mix them up。〃
〃You see； if Christianity be true； it must； as you say； 'mix up' with everything。 There should be no rigid distinction between secular and religious；〃 said Charles Osmond。
〃If it is true；〃 said Erica； suddenly； and with seeming irrelevance； 〃then sooner or later we must learn it to be so。 Truth MUST win in the end。 But it is worse to wait for perfect certainty than for books at the museum；〃 she added； laughing。 〃It is five minutes to nine I shall be late。〃
Charles Osmond walked home thoughtfully； the meeting had somehow cheered him。
〃Absolute conviction that truth must out that truth must make itself perceptible。 I've not often come across a more beautiful faith than that。 Yes； little Undine； right you are。 'Ye shall know the truth； and the truth shall make you free。' Here or there； here or there
〃'All things come round to him who will but wait。'
There's one for yourself； Charles Osmond。 None of your hurrying and meddling now； old man； you've just got to leave it to your betters。〃
Soliloquizing after this fashion he reached home； and was not sorry to find his breakfast awaiting him； for he had been up the greater part of the night。
The great domed library of the British Museum had become very home…like to Erica； it was her ideal of comfort； she went there whenever she wanted quiet； for in the small and crowded lodgings she could never be secure from interruptions； and interruptions resulted in bad work。 There was something； too； in the atmosphere of the museum which seemed to help her。 She liked the perfect stillness； she liked the presence of all the books。 Above all； too； she liked the consciousness of possession。 There was no narrow exclusiveness about this place； no one could look askance at her here。 The place belonged to the people； and therefore belonged to her； she heretic and atheist as she was had as much share in the ownership as the highest in the land。 She had her own peculiar nook over by the encyclopedias； and； being always an early comer； seldom failed to secure her own particular chair and desk。
On this morning she took her place； as she had done hundreds of times before； and was soon hard at work。 She was finishing her last paper on Livingstone when a book she had ordered was deposited on her desk by one of the noiseless attendants。 She wanted it to verify one or two dates； and she half thought she would try to hunt up Charles Osmond's anecdote。 In order to write her series of papers； she had been obliged to study the character of the great explorer pretty thoroughly。 She had always been able to see the nobility even of those differing most widely from herself in point of creed； and the great beauty of Livingstone's character had impressed her very much。 Today she happened to open on an entry in his journal which seemed particularly characteristic of the man。 He was in great danger from the hostile tribes at the union of the Zambesi and Loangwa； and there was something about his spontaneous utterance which appealed very strongly to Erica。
〃Felt much turmoil of spirit in view of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and teeming population knocked on the head by savages tomorrow。 But I read that Jesu