“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 of the peace foolish and ignorant enough to be made their instruments, but if it came to the worst, the penalty could only be a fine, which he would gladly pay himself.

“He cannot be imprisoned then?” inquired Miss Armstrong.

“No; they would not dare,” he said, to himself in a tone so low that Faith could catch only a word or two here and there, “send him—­disorderly—­no settlement—­no, no—­too bad—­might be done.  No, Faith,” he said, “you need anticipate no serious trouble about your protege.”

“Cannot we prevent his being arrested?  It would mortify him exceedingly.”

“For that, perhaps, there is no remedy, but we will see.  We are all equally amenable to the laws.  But after all, the thing may not be noticed.  These may be only rumors put out by some mischievous person to keep Holden away from the village.”

“They can have no such effect.”