in it which could hardly fail to come home to one who knew what
persecution meant. What if the very blame and injustice of the
present brought in the future reign of justice! She seemed to hear
her father's voice saying again, "We must bear up, child; injustice
won't triumph in the end."

"There is no gain except by loss!"

What if her loss of home and friends brought gain to the world!
That was a thought which brought a glow of happiness to her even in
the midst of her pain. There was, after all, much of the highest
Christianity about her, though she would have been very much vexed
if any one had told her so, because Christianity meant to her
narrow-mindedness instead of brotherly love. However it might be,
there was no denying that the child of the great teacher of atheism
had grasped the true meaning of life, had grasped it, and was
prepared to act on it too. She had always lived with those who
were ready to spend all in the promotion of the general good; and
all that was true, all that was noble in her creed, all that had
filled her with admiration in the lives of those she loved, came to
her aid now.

She went softly down the dark staircase to Raeburn's study; it was
late, and, anxious not to disturb the rest of the house, she opened
the door noiselessly and crept in. Her father was sitting at his
desk writing; he looked very stern, but there was a sort of
grandeur about his rugged face. He was absorbed in his work and
did not hear her, and for a minute she stood quite still watching
him, realizing with pain and yet with a happy pride how greatly she
loved him. Her heart beat fast at the thought of helping him,