Friends of the
vanquished never, or hardly ever, instituted proceedings.
But in the colonies it was different. Godliness had taken a deeper
hold in the soil; the Puritans of New England, who, in their zeal,
had burned old women because they were guilty of sorcery, had much to
say in correcting morals, and removing evil. The duel they considered
one of the most odious sins of society; and no doubt it seemed all
the more odious to them because it was the sin of an exclusive class
who put an estimate upon honour that passed the understanding of men
who believed it to be their duty to offer the left cheek after the
right had been smitten.
It is only just, however, to say that this was a precept more
honoured in the breach than the observance. The long-lipped, witch-burner
would draw blood with his knuckles; but he drew the line at the
sword. The state of public feeling upon duelling Roland very well
knew; and as he thought of Aster, with her sunny hair and glorious,
yearning eyes, and the exile that lay before him, a numb feeling of
despair began to gather about his heart. He was able to persuade
himself that she would look upon the unfortunate affair as necessary
for the assertion of his honour; but how could he hope for any
further happiness, a criminal in the law's eye, and an exile from the
country of Aster?
Why, however, he asked himself, was Aster the central figure in the
picture of desolation that he was painting? He had never given her
more than a passing thought before; had never thought of her save as
a frank, generous, sunny-hearted girl.
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