第48章 Losing One Friend to Gain Another (4)

"It is as you say such a very remote contingency!" He paused, grew grave, then continued with all his native nobility: "Yet I like you the better for having brought forward such an idea, improbable as I hope it may be considered.I feel very sure of Erica.She has thought a great deal, she has had every possible advantage.We never teach on authority; she has been left perfectly free and has learned to weigh evidences and probabilities, not to be led astray by any emotional fancies, but to be guided by reason.She has always heard both sides of the case; she has lived as it were in an atmosphere of debate, and has been, and of course always will be, quite free to form her own opinion on every subject.It is not for nothing that we call ourselves Freethinkers.Absolute freedom of thought and speech is part of our creed.So far from objecting to your holding free discussions with my daughter, I shall be positively grateful to you, and particularly just now.I fancy Erica has inherited enough of my nature to enjoy nothing better than a little opposition.""I know you are a born fighter," said Charles Osmond."We sympathize with each other in that.And next to the bliss of a hard-won victory, I place the satisfaction of being well conquered."Raeburn laughed.

"I am glad we think alike there.People are very fond of describing me as a big bull dog, but if they would think a little, they would see that the love of overcoming obstacles is deeply rooted in the heart of every true man.What is the meaning of our English love of field sports? What the explanation of the mania for Alpine climbing? It is no despicable craving for distinction, it is the innate love of fighting, struggling, and conquering.""Well, there are many obstacles which we can struggle to remove, side by side," said Charles Osmond."We should be like one man, Ifancy on the question of the opium trade, for instance."In a few vigorous words Raeburn denounced this monstrous national sin.

"Are you going to the meeting tonight?" he added, after a pause.

"Yes, I had thought of it.Let us go together.Shall you speak?""Not tonight," said Raeburn, a smile flickering about his usually stern lips."The Right Reverend Father, etc., etc., who is to occupy the chair, might object to announcing that 'Mr.Raeburn would now address the meeting.' No, this is not the time or place for me.So prejudiced are people that the mere connection of my name with the question would probably do more harm than good.Ishould like, I confess, to get up without introduction, to speak not from the platform but from among the audience incognito.But that is impossible for a man who has the misfortune to be five inches above the average height, and whose white hair has become a proverb, since some one made the unfortunate remark, repeated in a hundred newspapers, that the 'hoary head was only a crown of glory when found in the way of righteousness.'"Charles Osmond could not help laughing.

"The worst of these newspaper days is that one never can make an end of anything.That remark has been made to me since at several meetings.At the last, I told the speaker that I was so tired of comments on my personal appearance that I should soon have to resort either to the dyer or the wigmaker.But here am I wasting your time and my own, and forgetting the poor little maid at home.

Goodbye.I'll call in passing, then, at a quarter to eight.Tom Craigie will probably be with me, he is very rabid on the subject.""Craigie and I are quite old friends," said Charles Osmond.

And then, as on the preceding night he had stood at the door while Erica crossed the square, so now involuntarily his eyes followed Raeburn.In his very walk the character of the man was indicated firm, steady, imperturbable, straightforward.