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！
two of 〃Hiawatha〃 would greatly sweeten her somewhat bitter world this afternoon； and with her bag of scones in one hand and the book in the other she read on happily； quite unconscious that three pair of eyes were watching her from within the shop。
The wrinkled old man who was the presiding genius of the place had two customers； a tall； gray…bearded clergyman with bright； kindly eyes； and his son； the same Brian Osmond whom Erica had charged with her umbrella in Gower Street。
〃An outside customer for you；〃 remarked Charles Osmond； the clergyman； glancing at the shop keeper。 Then to his son； 〃What a picture she makes！〃
Brian looked up hastily from some medical books which he had been turning over。
〃Why that's my little Gower Street friend；〃 he exclaimed； the words being somehow surprised out of him； though he would fain have recalled them the next minute。
〃I don't interrupt her；〃 said the shop owner。 〃Her father has done a great deal of business with me； and the little lady has a fancy for poetry； and don't get much of it in her life； I'll be bound。〃
〃Why； who is she？〃 asked Charles Osmond； who was on very friendly terms with the old book collector。
〃She's the daughter of Luke Raeburn；〃 was the reply； 〃and whatever folks may say； I know that Mr。 Raeburn leads a hard enough life。〃
Brian turned away from the speakers； a sickening sense of dismay at his heart。 His ideal was the daughter of Luke Raeburn！ And Luke Raeburn was an atheist leader！
For a few minutes he lost consciousness of time and place； though always seeing in a sort of dark mist Erica's lovely face bending over her book。 The shop keeper's casual remark had been a fearful blow to him； yet； as he came to himself again； his heart went out more and more to the beautiful girl who had been brought up in what seemed to him so barren a creed。 His dream of love； which had been bright enough only an hour before； was suddenly shadowed by an unthought of pain； but presently began to shine with a new and altogether different luster。 He began to hear again what was passing between his father and the shop keeper。
〃There's a sight more good in him than folks think。 However wrong his views； he believes them right； and is ready to suffer for 'em； too。 Bless me； that's odd； to be sure！ There is Mr。 Raeburn； on the other side of the Row！ Fine…looking man； isn't he？〃
Brian； looking up eagerly； fancied he must be mistaken for the only passenger in sight was a very tall man of remarkably benign aspect； middle…aged； yet venerableor perhaps better described by the word 〃devotional…looking；〃 pervaded too by a certain majesty of calmness which seemed scarcely suited to his character of public agitator。 The clean…shaven and somewhat rugged face was unmistakably that of a Scotchman； the thick waves of tawny hair overshadowing the wide brow； and the clear golden…brown eyes showed Brian at once that this could be no other than the father of his ideal。
In the meantime； Raeburn； having caught sight of his daughter； slowly crossed the road； and coming noiselessly up to her； suddenly took hold of the book she was reading； and with laughter in his eyes； said； in a peremptory voice：
〃Five shillings to pay； if you please； miss！〃
Erica； who had been absorbed in the poem； looked up in dismay； then seeing who had spoken； she began to laugh。
〃What a horrible fright you gave me； father！ But do look at this； it's the loveliest thing in the world。 I've just got to the 'very strong man Kwasind。' I think he's a little like you！〃
Raeburn； though no very great lover of poetry； took the book and read a few lines。
〃Long they lived in peace together； Spake with naked hearts together； Pondering much and much contriving How the tribes of men might prosper。〃
〃Good！ That will do very well for you and me； little one。 I'm ready to be your Kwasind。 What's the price of the thing？ Four and sixpence！ Too much for a luxury。 It must wait till our ship comes in。〃
He put down the book； and they moved on together； but had not gone many paces before they were stopped by a most miserable…looking beggar child。 Brian standing now outside the shop； saw and heard all that passed。
Raeburn was evidently investigating the case； Erica； a little impatient of the interruption； was remonstrating。
〃I thought you never gave to beggars； and I am sure that harrowing story is made up。〃
〃Very likely；〃 replied the father； 〃but the hunger is real； and I know well enough what hunger is。 What have you here？〃 he added； indicating the paper bag which Erica held。
〃Scones；〃 she said； unwillingly。
〃That will do；〃 he said； taking them from her and giving them to the child。 〃He is too young to be anything but the victim of another's laziness。 There！ Sit down and eat them while you can。〃
The child sat down on the doorstep with the bag of scones clasped in both hands； but he continued to gaze after his benefactor till he had passed out of sight； and there was a strange look of surprise and gratification in his eyes。 That was a man who knew！ Many people had； after hard begging； thrown him pence； many had warned him off harshly； but this man had looked straight into his eyes； and had at once stopped and questioned him； had singled out the one true statement from a mass of lies； and had given him not a stale loaf with the top cut off； a suspicious sort of charity which always angered the waifbut his own food； bought for his own consumption。 Most wonderful of all； too； this man knew what it was to be hungry； and had even the insight and shrewdness to be aware that the waif's best chance of eating the scones at all was to eat them then and there。 For the first time a feeling of reverence and admiration was kindled in the child's heart； he would have done a great deal for his unknown friend。
Raeburn and Erica had meanwhile walked on in the direction of Guilford Square。
〃I had bought them for you；〃 said Erica； reproachfully。
〃And I ruthlessly gave them away；〃 said Raeburn； smiling。 〃That was hard lines； I though they were only household stock。 But after all it comes to the same thing in the end； or better。 You have given them to me by giving them to the child。 Never mind； 'Little son Eric！'〃
This was his pet name for her； and it meant a great deal to them。 She was his only child； and it had at first been a great disappointment to every one that she was not a boy。 But Raeburn had long ago ceased to regret this； and the nickname referred more to Erica's capability of being both son and daughter to him； able to help him in his work and at the same time to brighten his home。 Erica was very proud of her name； for she had been called after her father's greatest friend； Eric Haeberlein； a celebrated republican； who once during a long exile had taken refuge in London。 His views were in some respects more extreme than Raeburn's； but in private life he was the gentlest and most fascinating of men； and had quite won the heart of his little namesake。
As Mrs。 Raeburn had surmised； Erica's father had at once seen that something had gone wrong that day。 The all…observing eyes； which had noticed the hungry look in the beggar child's face； noticed at once tha