“And are you sure you have thought out these great questions so thoroughly and fairly that you are capable of teaching others about them?” “Ah! Now I see what you mean!” exclaimed Erica; “you think I write in defense of atheism, or as an attacker of Christianity. I do nothing of the kind; father would not allow me to, he would not think me old enough. Oh! No, I am only to write the lighter articles which are needed every now and then. Today I had a delightful subject--'Heroes--what are they?'” “Well, and what is your definition of a hero, I wonder; what are the qualities you think absolutely necessary to make one?” “I think I have only two absolutely necessary ones,” said Erica; “but my heroes must have these two, they must have brains and goodness.” “A tolerably sweeping definition,” said Charles Osmond, laughing, “almost equal to a friend of mine who wanted a wife, and said there were only two things he would stipulate for--1,500 a year, and an angel. But it brings us to another definition, you see. We shall agree as to the brains, but how about goodness! What is your definition of that very wide, not to say vague, term?” “I don't think I can define it,” she said; “but one knows it when one sees it.” “Do you mean by it unselfishness, courage, truthfulness, or any other virtue?” “Oh, it isn't any one virtue, or even a parcel of virtues, it will not go into words.” “It is then the nearest approach to some perfect ideal which is in your mind?” “I suppose it is,” she said, slowly. “How did that ideal come into your mind?” “I don't know; I suppose I got it by inheritance.” “From the original moneron?” “You are laughing at me. I don't know how of course, but I have it, which, as far as I can see, is all that matters.” “I am not sure of that,” said Charles Osmond. “The explanation of that ideal of goodness which more or less clearly exists in all our minds, seems to me to rest only in the conviction that all are children of one perfect Father. And I can give you our definition of goodness without hesitation, it is summed up for us in one word--'Christlikeness.'” “I cannot see it; it seems to me all exaggerated,” said Erica. “I believe it is only because people are educated to believe and predisposed to think it all good and perfect that there are so many Christians. You may say it is we who are prejudiced. If we are, I'm sure you Christians have done enough to make us so! How could I, for instance, be anything but an atheist? Shall I tell you the very first thing I can remember?” Her eyes were flashing with indignant light.