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Too thick for a summer night, said Erica, and glancing from her
father to Haeberlein too long to look natural. I think Tom's
ulster and traveling hat would be better.
Commend me to a woman when you want sound advice! cried
Haeberlein.
Erica went to search Tom's room for the ulster, and in the meantime
Haeberlein showed his friend a paragraph in one of the evening
papers which proved to Raeburn that the risk was indeed very great.
They were discussing things much more gravely when Erica returned.
The stations will be watched, Haeberlein was saying.
What station do you go to? asked Erica.
I thought of trying Cannon Street, replied the German.
Because, continued Erica, I think you had better let me see you
off. You will look like a young Englishman, and I shall do all the
talking, so that you need not betray your accent. They would never
dream of Herr Haeberlein laughing and talking with a young girl.
They would never dream that a young girl would be brave enough to
run such a risk! said Haeberlein. No, my sweet Herzblattchen, I
could not bring thee into danger.
There will be none for me, said Erica, and it may save you from
evil and my father from suspicion. Father, if you will let me, it
would be more of a disguise than anything.
You might meet some one you know, said Raeburn.
Very unlikely, she replied. And even if I did, what would it
matter? I need not tell them anything, and Herr Haeberlein would
get off all the same.
He saw that she was too pure and too unconventional to understand
his objection, but his whole heart rebelled against the idea of
letting her undertake the task, and it was only after much
persuasion that she drew from him a reluctant consent. After all,
it would be a great safeguard to Haeberlein, and Haeberlein was his
dearest friend. For no one else could he have risked what was so
precious to him. There was very little time for discussion. The
instant his permission was given, Erica ran upstairs to Tom's
private den, lighted his gas stove, and made a cup of chocolate, at
the same time blackening a cork very carefully. In a few minutes
she returned to the study, carrying the chocolate and a plate of
rusks, which she remembered were a particular weakness of Herr
Haeberlein's. She found that in her absence the two had been
discussing matters again, for Haeberlein met her with another
remonstrance.
Liebe Erica, he began, I yielded just now to thy generous
proposal; but I think it will not do. For myself I can be rash,
but not for thee. Thou art too frail and lovely, my little one, to

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