“I have made no pretensions to the hand of Miss Bernard; and even if I did, I see in it no presumption.  There is no distinction of patrician and plebeian in this country.”

“There are no such names, and yet there is a distinction.  Will it please the rich and polished Judge to ally his daughter with the son of one like me?”

“Judge Bernard is above the mean conceit of valuing himself upon his riches.  I never heard anything that sounded like arrogance or superciliousness from him, and he has uniformly treated me with kindness.  For yourself, dear father, though for reasons of your own you have chosen to lead hitherto this life of solitude and privation, why continue to do so?  Why not leave this miserable hut for comforts more befitting your age and the society you are capable of adorning?”

“Forbear!  In this miserable hut, as thou callest it, I found the peace that passeth understanding, and its walls are to me more glorious than the gildings of palaces.  If thou lovest Anne Bernard, as I strongly suspect, I say not unto thee cease to love her, but wait, hoarding thy love in secrecy and silence, until the fullness of the time is come.  Wilt thou not promise me this, for a short time?”

“I will do nothing, father, that may be contrary to your inclinations.”

“It is enough:  then let there be no change in thy conduct.  If thou have the love of Anne, keep it as a precious jewel, but for the present be content with the knowledge thereof:  if thou have it not, seek not thereafter.  I promise thee it shall be for thy good, nor will I unreasonably try thy patience.”

Here the interview ended, and Pownal departed, wondering over the mystery his father affected, though he could not but confess to himself there was a worldly wisdom (as he supposed it to be) in the advice, not to be precipitate, but to watch the course of events.  Though unacquainted with the motives of his parent, he was bound to respect his wishes, and felt a natural desire to gratify him to the extent of his ability.  He had never found him unreasonable, whatever might be his singularities, and besides, no plan of his own was crossed.  He was obliged to admit the possibility of a failure of his suit.  To break up the pleasant relations existing betwixt the Bernard family and himself; not to be allowed to approach Anne as before; a cold constraint to be substituted for a confiding friendship!  No, the hazard was too great.  Things should continue as they were.  He and Anne were still young:  there was time enough; his father was right; the counsels of age were wiser than those prompted by the rashness and impetuosity of youth.

The following morning was calm and warm, when Holden stood at the door of his cabin, on the second occasion we choose to intrude upon his devotions.  Not a cloud was to be seen, and the pearly hue which overspreads a clear summer sky, just stealing out of the shades of night, had not disappeared, except in the eastern quarter of the heavens, where a faint suffusion heralded, like a distant banner, the approach of the sun, welcomed, at first, by the low twittering of the birds, which gradually increased in frequency and loudness, until they swelled into bold strains, and rose melodiously into the air.