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Mr。 Tulliver that it's a 'puzzling world。'〃
〃The fact is；〃 said Charles Osmond； 〃that you consent patiently enough to share God's pain over those who don't believe in Him； but you grumble sorely at finding a lack of charity in the world； yet that pain is God's too。〃
〃Yes；〃 sighed Erica； 〃but somehow from Christians it seems so hard！〃
〃Quite true； child；〃 he replied； half absently。 〃It is hard most hard。 But don't let it make you uncharitable； Erica。 You are sharing God；'s pain； but remember it is only His perfect love which makes that pain bearable。〃
〃I do find it hard to love bigots；〃 said Erica； sighing。 〃They！ What do they know about the thousand difficulties which have driven people into secularism？ If they could but see that they and their narrow theories and their false distortions of Christ's Gospel are the real cause of it all； there would be some hope！ But they either can't see it or won't。〃
〃My dear； we're all a lot of blind puppies together；〃 said Charles Osmond。 〃We tumble up against each other just for want of eyes。 We shall see when we get to the end of the nine days； you know。〃
〃You see now；〃 said Erica； 〃you never hurt us； and rub us the wrong way。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 he replied； laughing。 〃But Mr。 Roberts and some of my other brethren would tell a different tale。 By the bye； would you care to help another befogged mortal who is in the region you are safely out of？ The evolution theory is the difficulty； and； if you have time to enter into his trouble； I think you could help him much better than I can。 If I could see him； I might tackle him； but I can't do it on paper。 You could； I think； and； as the fellow lives at the other side of the world； one can do nothing except by correspondence。〃
Erica was delighted to undertake the task； and she was particularly well fitted for it。 Perhaps no one is really qualified for the post of a clearer of doubts who has not himself faced and conquered doubts of a similar nature。
So there was a new interest for her on that long； lonely evening； and； as she waited for her father's return； she had time to think out quietly the various points which she would first take up。 By and by she slept a little； and then； in the silence of the night； crept down to the lower regions to add something to the tempting little supper which she had ready in the green room。 But time crept on； and in the silence she could hear dozens of clocks telling each hour； and the train had been long due； and still her father did not come。
At last she became too anxious to read or think to any purpose； she drew aside the curtain； and； in spite of the cold； curled herself upon the window seat with her face pressed close to the glass。 Watching； in a literal sense； was impossible； for there was a dense fog； if possible； worse than the fog of the preceding Saturday； but she had the feeling that to be by the window made her in some unaccountable way nearer to her father； and it certainly had the effect of showing her that there was a very good reason for unpunctuality。
The old square was as quiet as death。 Once a policeman raised her hopes for a minute by pacing slowly up the pavement； but he passed on； and all was still once more except that every now and then the furniture in the room creaked； making the eerie stillness all the more noticeable。 Erica began to shiver a little； more from apprehension than from cold。 She wished the telegram had come from any other town in England； and tried in vain not to conjure up a hundred horrible visions of possible catastrophes。 At length she heard steps in the distance； and straining her eyes to penetrate the thick darkness of the murky night； was able to make out just beneath the window a sort of yellow glare。 She ran downstairs at full speed to open the door； and there upon the step stood a link…boy； the tawny light from his torch showing up to perfection the magnificent proportions of the man in a shaggy brown Inverness； who stood beside him； and bringing into strong relief the masses of white hair and the rugged Scottish face which； spite of cold and great weariness； bore its usual expression of philosophic calm。
〃I thought you were never coming；〃 said Erica。 〃Why； you must be half frozen！ What a night it is！〃
〃We've been more than an hour groping our way from the station；〃 said Raeburn； 〃and cabs were unattainable。〃 Then； turning to the link…boy； 〃Come in； you are as cold and hungry as I am。 Have you got something hot； Eric？〃
〃Soup and coffee；〃 said Erica。 〃Which would he like best？〃
The boy gave his vote for soup； and； having seen him thoroughly satisfied and well paid； they sent him home； and to his dying day he was proud to tell the story of the foggy night when the people's tribune had given him half of his own supper。 The father and daughter were soon comfortably installed beside the green room fire； Raeburn making a hearty meal though it was past three o'clock。
〃I never dreamed of finding you up； little son Eric；〃 he said when the warmth and the food had revived him。 〃I only telegraphed for fear you should lock up for the night and leave me to shiver unknown on the doorstep。〃
〃But what happened？〃 asked Erica。 〃Why couldn't you lecture？〃
〃Ashborough had worked itself up into one of its tumults； and the fools of authorities thought it would excite a breach of the peace； which was excited quite as much and probably more by my not lecturing。 But I'm not going to be beaten！ I shall go down there again in a few weeks。〃
〃Was there any rioting？〃
〃Well； there was a roughish mob； who prevented my eating my dinner in peace； and pursued me even into my bedroom； and some of the Ashborough lambs were kind enough to overturn my cab as I was going to the station。 But； having escaped with nothing worse than a shaking； I'll forgive them for that。 The fact is they had burned me in effigy on the 5th and had so much enjoyed the ceremony that； when the original turned up； they really couldn't be civil to him； it would have been so very tame。 I'm told the effigy was such a fearful…looking monster that it frightened the bairnies out of their wits； specially as it was first carried all round the place on a parish coffin！〃
〃What a hateful plan that effigy…burning is！〃 said Erica。 〃Were you not really hurt at all when they upset your cab？〃
〃Perhaps a little bruised；〃 said Raeburn； 〃and somewhat angry with my charitable opponents。 I didn't so much mind being overturned； but I hate being balked。 They shall have the lecture； however； before long； I'm not going to be beaten。 On the whole； they couldn't have chosen a worse night for their little game。 I seriously thought we should never grope our way home through that fog。 It has quite taken me back to my young days when this sort of thing met one on every hand； and there was no little daughter to cheer me up then； and very often no supper either！〃
〃That was when you were living in Blank Street？〃
〃Yes； in a room about the size of a sentry box。 It was bearable all except the black beetles！ I've never seen such beetles before or since twice the size of the ordinary ones。 I couldn't convince the landlady that they even existed； she always mai