we two-第14节
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osity。
〃I believe he would have drowned himself sooner or later； like Gray's cat； so I dare say it is a good thing for him to leave。 You will be kind to him； won't you？〃
Brian promised that he should be well attended to； and； indeed there was little doubt that St。 Anthony would from that day forth be lapped in luxury。 He went away with his new master very contentedly； Erica following them to the door with farewell injunctions。
〃And you'll be sure to butter his feet well or else he won't stay with you。 Good bye； dear Tony。 Be a good little cat！〃
Brian was pleased to have this token from his Undine； but at the same time he could not help seeing that she cared much more about parting with the kitten than about saying good bye to him。 Well； it was something to have that lucky St。 Anthony； who had been fondled and kissed。 And after all it was Erica's very childishness and simplicity which made her so dear to him。
As soon as they were out of sight； Erica； with the thought of the separation beginning to weigh upon her； went back to her mother。 They knew that this was the last quiet time they would have together for many long months。 But last days are not good days for talking。 They spoke very little。 Every now and then Mrs。 Raeburn would make some inquiry about the packing or the journey； or would try to cheer the child by speaking of the house they would have at the end of the two years。 But Erica was not to be comforted； a dull pain was gnawing at her heart； and the present was not to be displaced by any visions of a golden future。〃If it were not for leaving you alone； mother； I shouldn't mind so much；〃 she said； in a choked voice。 〃But it seems to me that you have the hardest part of all。〃
〃Aunt Jean will be here； and Tom；〃 said Mrs。 Raeburn。
〃Aunt Jean is very kind；〃 said Erica； doubtfully。 〃But she doesn't know how to nurse people。 Tom is the one hope； and he has promised always to tell me the whole truth about you； so if you get worse； I shall come home directly。〃
〃You mustn't grudge me my share of the work；〃 said Mrs。 Raeburn。 〃It would make me very miserable if I did hinder you or your father。〃
Erica sighed。〃You and father are so dreadfully public…spirited！ And yet； oh； mother！ What does the whole world matter to me if I think you are uncomfortable； and wretched； and alone？〃
〃You will learn to think differently； dear； by and by；〃 said her mother； kissing the eager； troubled face。 〃And； when you fancy me lonely； you can picture me instead as proud and happy in thinking of my brave little daughter who has gone into exile of her own accord to help the cause of truth and liberty。〃
They were inspiriting words； and they brought a glow to Erica's face； she choked down her own personal pain。 No religious martyr went through the time of trial more bravely than Luke Raeburn's daughter lived through the next four and twenty hours。 She never forgot even the most trivial incident of that day； it seemed burned in upon her brain。 The dreary waking on the dark winter morning； the hurried farewells to her aunt and Tom； the last long embrace from her mother； the drive to the station； her father's recognition on the platform； the rude staring and ruder comments to which they were subjected； then the one supreme wrench of parting； the look of pain in her father's face； the trembling of his voice； the last long look as the train moved off； and the utter loneliness of all that followed。 Then came dimmer recollections； not less real； but more confused； of a merry set of fellow passengers who were going to enjoy themselves in the south of France； of a certain little packet which her father had placed in her hand； and which proved to be 〃Mill on Liberty；〃 of her eager perusal of the first two or three chapters； of the many instances of the 〃tyranny of the majority〃 which she had been able to produce； not without a certain satisfaction。 And afterward more vividly she could recall the last look at England； the dreary arrival at Boulogne； the long weary railway journey； and the friendly reception at Mme Lemercier's school。 No one could deny that her new life had been bravely begun。
CHAPTER VI。 Paris
But we wake in the young morning when the light is breaking forth； And look out on its misty gleams； as if the moon were full； And the Infinite around； seems but a larger kind of earth Ensphering this； and measured by the self…same handy rule。 Hilda among the Broken Gods。
Not unfrequently the most important years of a life； the years which tell most on the character； are unmarked by any notable events。 A steady； orderly routine； a gradual progression； perseverance in hard work； often do more to educate and form than a varied and eventful life。 Erica's two years of exile were as monotonous and quiet as the life of the secularist's daughter could possibly be。 There came to her； of course； from the distance the echoes of her father's strife； but she was far removed from it all； and there was little to disturb her mind in the quiet Parisian school。 There is no need to dwell on her uneventful life； and a very brief description of her surroundings will be sufficient to show the sort of atmosphere in which she lived。
The school was a large one； and consisted principally of French provincial girls； sent to Paris to finish their education。 Some of them Erica liked exceedingly； every one of them was to her a curious and interesting study。 She liked to hear them talk about their home life； and； above all things； to hear their simple； naive remarks about religion。 Of course she was on her honor not to enter into discussions with them； and they regarded all English as heretics； and did not trouble themselves to distinguish between the different grades。 But there was nothing to prevent her from observing and listening； and with some wonder she used to hear discussions about the dresses for the 〃Premiere Communion；〃 remarks about the various services； or laments over the confession papers。 The girls went to confession once a month； and there was always a day in which they had to prepare and write out their misdemeanors。 One day； a little； thin； delicate child from the south of France came up to Erica with her confession in her hand。
〃Dear； good Erica；〃 she said； wearily； 〃have the kindness to read this and to correct my mistakes。〃
Erica took the little thing on her knee； and began to read the paper。 It was curiously spelled。 Before very long she came to the sentence； 〃J'ai trop mange。〃
〃Why； Ninette；〃 exclaimed Erica； 〃you hardly eat enough to feed a sparrow； it is nonsense to put that。〃
〃Ah； but it was a fast day；〃 signed Ninette。 〃And I felt hungry； and did really eat more than I need have。〃
Erica felt half angry and contemptuous； half amused； and could only hope that the priest would see the pale； thin face of the little penitent； and realize the ludicrousness of the confession。
Another time all the girls had been to some special service； on their return； she asked what it had been about。
〃Oh；〃 remarked a bright…faced girl； 〃it was about the seven joys or the seven sorrowsof Mary。〃
〃Do you mean to say you don't know whether it was very solemn or very joyful？〃 asked Erica； astonished and amused。
〃I am really not sure；〃 said the girl； with the most placid good…tempered indifference。
On the whole； it was scarcely to be wondered at that Erica was not favorably impressed with Roman Catholicism。
She was a great favorite with all the girls； but； though she was very patient and persevering； she did not succeed in making any of them fluent English speakers； and learned their language far better than they learned hers。 Her three special friends were not among the pupils； but among the teachers。 Dear old Mme。 Lemercier； with her good…humored black eyes； her kind； demonstrative ways； and her delightful stories about the time of the war and the siege； was a friend worth having。 So was her husband； M。 Lemercier the journalist。 He was a little dried…up man； with a fierce black mustache； he was sarcastic and witty； and he would talk politics by the hour together to any one who would listen to him； especially if they would now and then ask a pertinent and intelligent question which gave him scope for an oration。
Erica made a delightful listener； for she was always anxious to learn and to understand； and before long she was quite AU FAIT； and understood a great deal about that exceedingly complicated thing； the French political system。 M。 Lemercier was a fiery； earnest little man； with very strong convictions； he had been exiled as a communist but had now returned； and was a very vigorous and impassioned writer in one of the advanced Republican journals。 He and his wife became very fond of Erica； Mme。 Lemercier loving her for her brightness and readiness to help； and monsieur for her beauty and her quickness of perception。 It was surprising and gratifying to meet with a girl who； without being a femme savante； was yet capable of understanding the difference between the Extreme Left and the Left Center； and who took a real interest in what was passing in the world。
But Erica's greatest friend was a certain Fraulein Sonnenthal； the German governess。 She was a kind…eyed Hano
