and gratified that Charles Osmond should have troubled to bring him
word about it. The two men talked on with the most perfect
friendliness; and by and by, to Erica's great delight, Charles
Osmond expressed a wish to be present at the meeting that night,
and made inquiries as to the time and place.

"Oh, couldn't you stay to tea and go with us?" she exclaimed,
forgetting for the third time that he was a clergyman, and offering
the ready hospitality she would have offered to any one else.

"I should be delighted," he said, smiling, "if you can really put
up with one of the cloth."

Raeburn, amused at his daughter's spontaneous hospitality, and
pleased with the friendly acceptance it had met with, was quite
ready to second the invitation. Erica was delighted; she carried
off the cat and the toast into the next room, eager to tell her
mother all about the visitor.

"The most delightful man, mother, not a bit like a clergyman. I
didn't find out for ever so long what he was, and said all sorts of
dreadful things; but he didn't mind, and was not the least
offended."

"When will you learn to be cautious, I wonder," said Mrs. Raeburn,
smiling. "You are a shocking little chatter-box."

And as Erica flitted busily about, arranging the tea table, her
mother watched her half musedly, half anxiously. She had always
been remarkably frank and outspoken, and there was something so