Part 10 (1/2)
”But you do not doubtI would not do to make you happy, Father Holden?”
”No I trust in thee as a parent in his child Thou art as incapable of deception as the heavens of a stain I have known thee, Faith, since thou wast a child, and thou hast always had an influence over me As the notes of the youthful harper of Israel scared away the demons from the bosom of Saul, so do the tones of thy voice thrill me like a melody from the past So tell me of thyself and of all that concerns thee, so far, at least, as thou canst is to one likewoman can have little interest for you, father”
”Believe it not Though s”
”I cannot speak of myself,” said Faith ”My life has been too destitute of incident to deserve mention, and it is already known to you”
”What callest thou life? Is it,” he continued, fixing his eyes on the carpet, and speaking in a low tone, ”the few gasps that agitate the bosom here? If that were all, it were of but little inning It is the lighting of the spark that shall blaze a glorious star, or burn a lurid conflagration for ever” He stopped; he raised his eyes to the face of Faith, whose oere fastened on hiazed fondly on her; his features assuht had driven out the old, he added, ”blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”
Apparently, these exclamations affected Faith with no surprise She had probably listened to similar conversations, and simply replied:
”Who shall say his heart is pure?”
”If not thou, then none Sad thought, that the poisoned tongue of the snake in Eden, should taint even a being so fair as thou”
”Father,” said Faith, as desirous of changing a conversation which began to be e, for to such ejaculations it was impossible to return reasonable answers, ”do you love the loneliness, of your island as much as ever? Would it not be e?”
”Thou art not the only one whose kindness hath asked the question
But, in h it was forced on eon and the chain introduced me to its acquaintance; yet, such is the kindness of Providence, that, what at first I hated, I afterwards learned to love Know, too, that I have lived in the boundless forest, until an inhabited street cramps my breast and stifles my breath; nor am I ever less alone than when alone with God Ask h thy intentions be kind, to renounce a mode of life which habit hath made a second nature”
”Tell me of your adventures”
”Hold! Wouldst thou hear of a youth blasted by unkindness; of prostrate hopes, and scenes of revenge and horror? Nay, thou knowest not what thou askest”
”It was not through mere curiosity I ly know more, that they may be the better able to pro her hand, and holding it an instant, ”is kind, my child; but what purpose would it serve? The time will come when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed: then let the story of s be blazoned to the world”
Faith attached little credence to confessions of crimes which Holden intiht have felt alar thus alone with hi her with terror, had so unaccountable of attraction His self-accusation she considered exaggerations of a morbid fancy that converted common errors into unpardonable sins Hers was a charity that could think no evil, and in her i since formed a theory that, to her pure mind, made him an object of deep interest In Holden she saw a uage so far above those of most around her, proved both; who, by undeserved misfortunes had partially lost his reason, and, like the stricken deer, left the herd to die alone
Sometimes she would fill up the picture with scenes from his supposed life, at one time of one character, and at another tiination, changing figures of a kaleidoscope which eeneral hypothesis she was quite convinced, nor without hope that her old friend would be restored to society and the position which she considered his due As children instinctively know those who love thes of Faith, and by it been drawn closer to her Certainly, there was no one in whose society he took more pleasure, or whoe of the conversation, the door opened, and Mr Ar entered He advanced to Holden, whose hand he took, and welco for hihter's partiality he well knew, of course; and although, in his opinion, it was so lady should be attracted by Holden, he accounted for the circu it to the romance in her nature, of which she had no co betwixt the appearance of the two men On the one hand, in perfect harmony with the adornment of the handso, with cropped hair and close-shaven face, in a suit of fine black cloth anda refined, perhaps enervated phase of civilization; on the other, the stately and vigorous forirt around the waist with a sash, with long hair falling on his neck, and unshorn beard, looking like one better acquainted with the northern blast than with the comforts of curtains and carpets
”It is not often, brother Holden,” said Mr Ar him by an epithet sometimes applied to him, ”that I am so fortunate as to meet you in my house”
”Dost thou speak fro,” replied Holden, ”or art thou flattering me with empty conventionalities?”
Thelooked distressed, but, reently answered:
”I am sorry the forlad to see you”
”Nay,” said Holden, ”letpardon for my rudeness; and that I fully believe thee, be h thy daughter, and there are tiood to be with her It is then I fancy I hear in her voice the tones of the long lost, and they come not with a wail of sorrow, but like a welco, falling insensibly, and as by so, ”the lost!