s was no occasion for his interference, and although he
followed the retreating figure of the Solitary with longing eyes,
while his hands clutched at the writ, ventured on no attempt to
exercise his authority.

CHAPTER XXIV.

We talk of love and pleasure--but 'tis all
A tale of falsehood. Life's made up of gloom:
The fairest scenes are clad in ruin's pall,
The loveliest pathway leads but to the tomb.

PERCIVAL.

After the event just recorded, it may well be supposed that all
further legal proceedings against the Recluse were abandoned. They
had been commenced only to gratify the wounded pride of Davenport, and
since the preservation of the life of his son by Holden, the community
would have cried shame on him had the matter been pursued further. But
no such public sentiment was needed in order to induce Davenport to
give the justice and Basset a hint to do nothing more. He was really
grateful, though feeling no compunction for his conduct, easily
persuading himself that it had been prompted by a love of justice, and
a desire to protect the interests of religion.

Holden could, therefore, without fear of the consequences, resume
openly his usual visits to the village. Of late they had been more
than usually frequent at the house of Mr. Armstrong, by whom he seemed
almost as much attracted as by Faith. With the former the conversation
usually turned upon points of theology that every day appeared to
assume with Armstrong deeper importance, with the latter on the
effects produced by the teachings of Holden among the Indians. For
since his exile at the Patmos of the Indian village, a new subject had
engaged the attention of the Solitary, to which with characteristic
energy he had devoted the powers of his soul--the conversion of
the poor wretches who had kindly harbored and protected him. To
his sanguine expectations, expressed in the impassioned language of
Scripture he loved to use, the enthusiastic girl would listen,
with the warmest interest. Accustomed to assign every event to an
overruling Providence, she thought she now saw clearly the hand of a
superior Power in the occurrences which had compelled Holden, in
the first instance, to take up his temporary residence among them.
Temporary residence, we say, because the Solitary had since returned
to his hut, which was at the distance of only two or three miles from
the cabins of his former protectors. Solitude he found was necessary
in o