第47章 Losing One Friend to Gain Another (3)

"All-Father, drive out my selfish cowardice, my self-righteous conceit.Give me Thy spirit of perfect love to all, give me Thy pure hatred of sin.Melt my coldness with Thy burning charity, and if it be possible make me fit to be Luke Raeburn's friend."While he still stood by the window a visitor was announced.He had been too much absorbed to catch the name, but it seemed the most natural thing that on turning round he should find himself face to face with the prophet of atheism.

There he stood, a splendid specimen of humanity; every line in his rugged Scottish face bespoke a character of extraordinary force, but the eyes which in public Charles Osmond had seen flashing with the fire of the man's enthusiasm, or gleaming with a cold metallic light which indicated exactly his steely endurance of ill treatment, were now softened and deepened by sadness.His heart went out to him.Already he loved the man, only hitherto the world's opinions had crept into his heart between each meeting, and had paralyzed the free God-like love.But it was to do so no longer.That afternoon he had dealt it a final blow, there was no more any room for it to rear its fair-speaking form, no longer should its veiled selfishness, its so-called virtuous indignation turn him into a Pharisaical judge.

He received him with a hand shake which conveyed to Raeburn much of the warmth, the reality, the friendliness of the man.He had always liked Charles Osmond, but he had generally met him either in public, or when he was harassed and preoccupied.Now, when he was at leisure, when, too, he was in great trouble, he instinctively perceived that Osmond had in a rare degree the broad-hearted sympathy which he was just now in need of.From that minute a life-long friendship sprung up between the two men.

"I came really to see your son," said Raeburn, "but they tell me he is out.I wish to know the whole truth about Erica." It was not his way to speak very much where he felt deeply, and Charles Osmond could detect all the deep anxiety, the half-indulged hope which lay hidden behind the strong reserved exterior.He had heard enough of the case to be able to satisfy him, to assure him that there was no danger, that all must be left to time and patience and careful observance of the doctor's regulations.Raeburn sighed with relief at the repeated assurance that there was no danger, that recovery was only a question of time.Death had so recently visited his home that a grisly fear had taken possession of his heart.Once free of that, he could speak almost cheerfully of the lesser evil.

"It will be a great trial to her, such absolute imprisonment; she is never happy unless she is hard at work.But she is brave and strong-willed.Will you look in and see her when you can?""Certainly," said Charles Osmond."We must do our best to keep up her spirits.""Yes, luckily she is a great reader, otherwise such a long rest would be intolerable, I should fancy.""You do not object to my coming to see her?" said Charles Osmond, looking full into his companion's eyes."You know that we discuss religious questions pretty freely.""Religious questions always are freely discussed in my house," said Raeburn."It will be the greatest advantage to her to have to turn things well over in her mind.Besides, we always make a point of studying our adversaries' case even more closely than our own, and, if she has a chance of doing it personally as well as through books, all the better.""But supposing that such an unlikely thing were to happen as that she should see reason to change her present views? Supposing, if you can suppose anything so unlikely, she should ever in future years come to believe in Christianity?"Raeburn smiled, not quite pleasantly.