nounce
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 made the request. Those who love
you would willingly know more, that they may be the better able to
promote your welfare."

"The motive," said Holden, taking 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 my crimes and wrongs be blazoned to the world."

Faith attached little credence to confessions of crimes which Holden
intimated he had committed. Had she done so, she might have felt alarm
at being thus alone with him. But his presence, so far from inspiring
her with terror, had something 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 imagination she had long since
formed a theory that, to her pure mind, made him an object of
deep interest. In Holden she saw a man of superior endowments and
breeding--his manners and language 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 time of another;
but they were merely sports of the Imagination, changing figures of a
kaleidoscope which employed without satisfying the mind. Of the truth
of her general 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 them, so must Holden have originally had some idea of the
feelings of Faith, and by it been drawn closer to her. Certainly,
there was no one in whose society he took more pleasure, or whom he
was more desirous to please.

At this stage of the conversation, the door opened, and Mr. Armstrong
entered. He advanced to Holden, whose hand he took, and welcomed with
much cordiality. It was no new thing for him to see the Recluse in
his parlor. His daughter's partiality he well knew, o