e very first time she had
met him.

The other members of the family liked him almost as well, although they
did not know him so intimately as Erica. Aunt Jean, who had at first
been a little prejudiced against him, ended by singing his praises more
loudly than any one, perhaps conquered in spite of herself by the man's
extraordinary power of sympathy, his ready perception of good even in
those with whom he disagreed most.

Mrs. Craigie was in many respects very like her brother, and was a very
useful worker, though much of her work was little seen. She did not
speak in public; all the oratorical powers of the family seemed to
have concentrated themselves in Luke Raeburn; but she wrote and worked
indefatigably, proving a very useful second to her brother. A hard,
wearing life, however, had told a good deal upon her, and trouble had
somewhat imbittered her nature. She had not the vein of humor which had
stood Raeburn in such good stead. Severely mater-of-fact, and almost
despising those who had any poetry in their nature, she did not always
agree very well with Erica. The two loved each other sincerely, and were
far too loyal both to clan and creed to allow their differences really
to separate them; but there was, undoubtedly, something in their
natures which jarred. Even Tom found it hard at times to bear the strong
infusion of bitter criticism which his mother introduced into the home
atmosphere. He was something of a philosopher, however, and knowing that
she had been through great trouble, and had had much to try her, he made
up his mind that it was natural therefore inevitable therefore to be
borne.

The home life was not without its frets and petty trials, but on one
point there was perfect accord. All were devoted to the head of the
house would have sacrificed anything to bring him a few minutes' peace.

As for Raeburn, when not occupied in actual conflict, he lived in a
sort of serene atmosphere of thought and study, far removed from all
the small differences and little cares of his household. They invariably
smoothed down all such roughnesses in his presence, and probably in
any case he would have been unable to see such microscopic grievances;
unless, indeed, they left any shade of annoyance on Erica's face, and
then his fatherhood detected at once what was wrong.

It would be tedious, however, to follow the course of Erica's life for
the next three years, for, though the time was that of her chief mental