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thyself； else shalt thou be moved to do evil。 Put thou thy trust in the Lord； and be doing good。 Put thy trust in Him； and He will bring it to pass。
She closed the book； and sat musing； her anger quite passed away。
All at once she recollected old Elspeth； the nurse。 Her father had charged her with many messages to the faithful old servant； and so had her aunt。 She felt ashamed to think that she had been several hours in the house without delivering them。 Rose's room was close to hers。 She went out； and knocked softly at the door。
〃I just came to see whether Elspeth was here；〃 she said； rather dismayed to find the candles out； and the room only lighted up by the red glow from the fire。
Rose who had had no temper to conquer； was already in bed。〃Still in your dress！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I believe you've been at that Browning again。 But did no one come to help you？ I sent Gemma。〃
〃I didn't want help； thank you；〃 said Erica。 〃I only wanted to see Elspeth because I have a message for her。〃
〃How conscientious you are！〃 said Rose； laughing。 〃I always make a point of forgetting messages when I go from home。 Well； you will find Elspeth in the little room on the next half landing； the work room。 She was here not two minutes ago。 Good night！ Breakfast is at nine； you know； and they'll bring you a cup of tea when they call you。〃
A little shyly； Erica made her way to the work room where Elspeth was tacking frilling into one of Rose's dresses。 The old woman started up with a quick exclamation when she appeared in the doorway。
〃May I come in？〃 said Erica； with all the charm of manner which she had inherited from her father。 〃'Tis very late； but I didn't like to go to bed without seeing you。〃
〃I hope missie has everything she wants？〃 asked Elspeth； anxiously。
〃Yes； indeed！〃 said Erica。 〃All I want is to see you； and to give you my father's love； to ask how you are。 He and Aunt Jean have often told me about you。 You have not forgotten them？〃
〃Forgotten！ No； indeed！〃 cried old Elspeth。 〃When I saw you at 'Takin' the book；' and saw you so like your poor father； I could have cried。 You are Mr。 Luke's bairn； and no mistake； my bonny lassie！ Ah； I mind the day well when he came to my room the auld nursery in the parsonage； where I had reared him and told me that master had ordered him out of the house。 I pray God I may never again see a face look as his looked then！〃
Tears started to her eyes at the recollection。 Erica threw her arms round her neck； and kissed her。
〃You love him still。 I see you love him！〃 she exclaimed； all her feeling of isolation melting in the assurance of the old servant's sympathy。
So； after all； Erica had a maid in attendance； for Elspeth insisted on seeing her to bed； and； since they talked all the time about the old Scotch days； she was well content to renounce her independence for a little while。
But； whether because of the flickering fire light； or because of the strangeness of the great brass bedstead； with its silken hangings and many…colored Indian rezai； Erica slept very little that night。 Perhaps the long talk about her father's early days had taken too great a hold of her。 At any rate； she tossed about very restlessly in her luxurious quarters； and when； for brief intervals； she slept； it was only to dream of her father taking leave of his Scottish home； and always he bore that flint…like face； that look of strong endurance and repressed passion which Elspeth had described； and which； in times of trouble and injustice； Erica had learned to know so well。
CHAPTER XXV。 Lady Caroline's Dinner
The blank of amaze of your haughty gaze； The cold surprise of patrician eyes。 Lewis Morris
But the paucity of Christians is astonishing； considering the number of them。 Leigh Hunt。
The irritation； or； at any rate； the novelty of the luxury in the Fane…Smith's household wore off after Erica had spent a few days at Greyshot。 She became accustomed to the great rooms； and being artistic by nature and the reverse by education； she began very much to enjoy the pictures； the charming variety of foreign treasures； and particularly all the lovely things of Indian workmanship with which the drawing room was crowded。 The long； formal meals she learned to endure。 The absurdly large retinue of servants ceased to oppress her； she used to amuse herself by speculating as to the political views of the men…servants！ while the luxury of a daily drive with her aunt she very much appreciated。
But； though the mere externals were soon familiar enough； she found that every day increased the difficulty she felt in becoming accustomed to the atmosphere of this family。 She had lived all her life with people who were overwhelmed with work； and in a home where recreation was only the rare concession to actual health。 Here recreation seemed to be the business of life； while work for the public was merely tacked on as a sort of ornamental fringe。
Mr。 Fane…Smith had； indeed； a few committee meetings to attend； Mrs。 Fane…Smith visited her district once a fortnight； and distributed tracts； and kind words； and soup tickets； and blanket tickets； besides the most lavish gifts from her own purse。 Rose； to please her mother； taught a class of little girls on Sunday afternoon that is to say； she did NOT teach them； but she sat in a chair and heard them say collects； and enforced orderly behavior upon them； and read them a good little story book。 But these were merely rather tiresome duties which came in very often as provoking interruptions to the great business of life； namely eating； drinking； dining out； giving dinners； or attending the endless succession of at…homes； dances； musical evenings； amateur theatricals； by which Greyshot people tried to kill time。
As to taking any intelligent interest in the political world； no one seemed to dream of such a thing； except Mr。 Fane…Smith； who read the paper at breakfast； and hurled anathemas at all the statesmen whom Erica had learned to love and revere。 It taxed her patience to the utmost to sit through the daily diatribe against Sir Michael Cunningham； her hero of heroes。 But even the violent opposition seemed preferable to the want of interest shown by the others。 Mrs。 Fane…Smith had time to fritter away at least half an hour after breakfast in the most desultory conversation； the most fruitless discussions with Rose as to some detail of dress； but she always made the excuse that she 〃had no time〃 to read the papers； and amused Erica not a little by asking her husband if 〃anything particular had been happening lately；〃 when they were just starting for a dinner party。 Out of his little rechauffe of the week's news she probably extracted enough information to enable her to display that well…bred interest； that vague and superficial acquaintance with the subject which will pass muster in society； and which probably explains alike the very vapid talk and the wildly false accusations which form the staple of ordinary conversation。
Rose was even more perplexing。 She was not only ignorant； but she boasted of her ignorance。 Again and again Erica heard her deprecate the introduction of any public question。
〃Oh； don't begin