"'It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,
Let me not name it to you, ye chaste stars,
It is the cause'—
Why, because he made the most interesting speech at conference the other evening."
Miss Armstrong, whom the jesting manner of the doctor somewhat re-assured, begged him to give her all the information he had obtained; but, throwing aside what he considered the embellishments of fancy, it was no more than what he had already imparted.
"What would be the punishment for such an offence?" inquired Faith.
"I am more learned in pills than in points of law; but I suppose some trifling fine."
"It would be of no great consequence, were it any one else," said Faith; "but it would grieve me to have Mr. Holden subjected to an indignity he would feel sensibly. It was through my father's and my entreaties he attended the meeting, and if censure is to fall anywhere, it ought to alight on us, and not on him, who certainly supposed he was performing a duty, however much he might be mistaken. Dear doctor, I shall trust in you to watch that no harm befalls him. I should forever reproach myself as the cause, if any did."
"You may rely on me, my dear. It is not so much on account of the old fellow, who richly deserves to be fined and shut up a week for running about the country and frightening the children with his long beard—why my horse started at it the other day—but because you take an interest in him, and I am above all jealousy; therefore, command me,
'Be't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curled clouds; to thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality."
"My commands will not be so difficult to perform, I trust," said
Faith, smiling.
"Understand me metaphorically, parabolically, poetically," cried he, taking leave.