Part 12 (1/2)
”Yes, but your baptismal name?”
”You ask strange questions, young sir; but still I will answer you that: my baptismal name is Patience.”
”I thank you for your condescension,” replied Edward ”You live here?”
”For the present, good sir; and now I leave you.”
”That's a nice little girl, thought Edward, although she is the daughter of a Roundhead; and she calls me 'Sir.' I can not, therefore, look like Jacob's grandson, and must be careful.” Edward then set to with a good appet.i.te at the viands which had been placed before him, and had just finished a hearty meal when Patience Heatherstone again came in and said:
”Oswald Partridge is now coming home.”
”I thank you, maiden,” replied Edward. ”May I ask a question of you?
Where is the king now?”
”I have heard that he resides at Hurst Castle,” replied the girl; ”but,” added she in a low tone, ”all attempts to see him would be useless and only hurt him and those who made the attempt.” Having said this, she left the room.
CHAPTER IX.
Edward, having finished his meal, and had a good pull at the jug of ale, which was a liquor he had not tasted for a long while, rose from the table and went out of the back door, and found there Oswald Partridge. He accosted him, stating the reason for his coming over to him. ”I did not know that Jacob had a grandson: indeed I never knew that he had a son. Have you been living with him long?”
”More than a year,” replied Edward; ”before that, I was in the household at Arnwood.”
”Then you are of the king's side, I presume?” replied Oswald.
”To death,” replied Edward, ”when the time comes.”
”And I am also; that you may suppose, for never would I give a hound to any one that was not. But we had better go to the kennels. Dogs may hear, but they can't repeat.”
”I little thought to have met any one but you here when I came,” said Edward; ”and I will now tell you all that pa.s.sed between me and the new intendant.” Edward then related the conversation.
”You have been bold,” said Oswald; ”but perhaps it is all the better. I am to retain my situation, and so are two others; but there are many new hands coming in as rangers. I know nothing of them, but that they are little fitted for their places, and rail against the king all day long, which, I suppose, is their chief merit in the eyes of those who appoint them. However, one thing is certain, that if those fellows can not stalk a deer themselves, they will do all they can to prevent others; so you must be on the alert, for the punishment is severe.”
”I fear them not; the only difficulty is, that we shall not be able to find a sale for the venison now,” replied Edward.
”Oh never fear that; I will give you the names of those who will take all your venison off your hands without any risk on your part, except in the killing of it. They will meet you in the park, lay down ready money, and take it away. I don't know, but I have an idea, that this new intendant, or what you may call him, is not so severe as he pretends to be. Indeed, his permitting you to say what he did, and his own words relative to the colonel, convince me that I am right in the opinion that I formed.”
”Do you know who he is?”
”Not much about him, but he is a great friend of General Cromwell, and they say has done good service to the Parliamentary cause; but we shall meet again, for the forest is free at all events.”
”If you come here,” continued Oswald, ”do not carry your gun-and see that you are not watched home. There are the dogs for your grandfather. Why, how old must you be, for Jacob is not more than sixty or thereabout?”
”I am fifteen, past, nevertheless.”
”I should have put you down for eighteen or nineteen at least. You are well grown indeed for that age. Well, nothing like a forest life to turn a boy into a man! Can you stalk a deer?”
”I seldom go out without bringing one down.”
”Indeed! That Jacob is a master of his craft, is certain; but you are young to have learned it so soon. Can you tell the slot of a brocket from a stag?”