teresting 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.

After he was gone Miss Armstrong sat musing over what she had heard.
The idea that any annoyance should happen to the Solitary, growing
out of a circumstance with which she was in some manner connected,
distressed her exceedingly, and, dissatisfied with the meagre
statement of the doctor, she determined to go over to Judge Bernard's,
to try to procure more satisfactory information.

"He will, at least," she said, "be better acquainted with the law than
Doctor Elmer, and there is no favor he will refuse me."

But the Judge was unable to add anything of importance. He had heard
the same rumors, but could not vouch for their truth. With regard to
the issuing of a warrant for such a cause, he could not say but that
persons might be found malignant enough to get one out, and justices