Part 31 (1/2)
”I do not intend to take away the heavy or more bulky articles, such as the bedding, armor, &c. I will only take Clara's own packages, and the valuables and papers. The remainder may stay here, as they can be of no use, till they are demanded from you. Where is Oswald Partridge?”
”In the stable with the horses, sir,” replied Humphrey.
”Then, when the cart is loaded-and it had better be done by you while the men are in the stable-Oswald shall take charge of it, and take the things to my house.”
”Here are the keys, sir,” said Edward, presenting them.
”Good. And now, Edward Armitage, that we are alone, I want to have a little conversation with you. You are aware how much I feel indebted to you for the service you have rendered me, and how anxious I am to show my grat.i.tude. You are born for better things than to remain an obscure forester, and perhaps a deer-stalker. I have now an offer to make to you, which I trust, upon reflection, you will not refuse-and I say reflection, because I do not wish you to give an answer till you have well reflected. I know that you will not accept any thing under the present government; but a private situation you can raise no objection to; the more so as, so far from leaving your family, you will be more in a position to protect them. I am in want of a secretary, and I wish you to accept that office, to live entirely in my house, and to receive a handsome salary for your services, which will not, I trust, be too heavy. You will be near to your family here in the cottage, and be able to protect them and a.s.sist them; and what is more, you will mix with the world and know what is going on, as I am in the confidence of the government. Of course, I put implicit confidence in you, or I would not offer the situation. But you will not be always down here: I have my correspondents and friends, to whom I shall have to send you occasionally on most trusty missions. You, I am sure, will suit me in every respect, and I hope you will undertake the post which I now offer to you. Give me no answer just now; consult with your brother, and give the offer due consideration, and when you have made up your mind you can let me know.”
Edward bowed, and the intendant went into the cottage.
Edward then a.s.sisted Humphrey and Pablo to get the iron chest on the cart, and covered it with the other packages and boxes, till the cart was well loaded. Leaving Pablo in charge till Oswald came from the stables, Edward and Humphrey then went into the cottage, where they found a very social party; Patience Heatherstone having succeeded in making great friends with the other three girls, and the intendant, to Edward's surprise, laughing and joking with them. Alice and Edith had brought out some milk, biscuits, and all the fruit that was ripe, with some bread, a cold piece of salt beef, and a ham; and they were eating as well as talking.
”I have been praising your sisters' house-keeping, Armitage,” said the intendant. ”Your farm appears to be very productive.”
”Alice expected Miss Heatherstone, sir,” replied Edward, ”and made an unusual provision. You must not think that we live on such fare every day.”
”No,” replied the intendant, dryly; ”on other days I dare say you have other fare. I would almost make a bet that there is a pasty in the cupboard which you dare not show to the intendant of the New Forest.”
”You are mistaken, sir, for once,” replied Humphrey. ”Alice knows well how to make one, but she has not one just now.”
”Well, I must believe you, Master Humphrey,” replied the intendant. ”And now, my dear child, we must think of going, for it is a long ride, and the little girl is not used to a horse.”
”Mistress Alice, many thanks for your hospitality; and now, farewell.
Edith, good-by, dear. Now, Clara, are you quite ready?”
They all went out of the cottage. The intendant put Clara on the pony, after she had kissed Alice and Edith. Edward a.s.sisted Patience; and when she was mounted, she said-
”I hope you will accept my father's offer-you will oblige me so much if you do.”
”I will give it every consideration it deserves,” replied Edward. ”Indeed, it will depend more upon my brother than myself whether I accept it or not.”
”Your brother is a very sensible young man, sir; therefore, I have hopes,” replied Patience.
”A quality which it appears you do not give me credit for, Miss Heatherstone.”
”Not when pride or vindictive feelings obtain the mastery,” replied she.
”Perhaps you will find that I am not quite so proud, or bear such ill-will, as I did when I first saw your father, Miss Heatherstone; and some allowance should be made, even if I did show such feelings, when you consider that I was brought up at Arnwood.”
”True-most true, Master Armitage. I had no right to speak so boldly, especially to you, who risked your own life to save the daughter of one of those Roundheads who treated the family of your protector so cruelly. You must forgive me; and now, farewell!”
Edward bowed, and then turned to the intendant, who had apparently been waiting while the conversation was going on. The intendant bade him a cordial farewell; Edward shook Clara by the hand, and the cavalcade set off. They all remained outside of the cottage till the party were at some distance, and then Edward walked apart with Humphrey, to communicate to him the offer made by the intendant, and ask his opinion.
”My opinion is made up, Edward, which is that you should accept it immediately. You are under no obligation to the government, and you have already conferred such an obligation upon the intendant that you have a right to expect a return. Why stay here, when you can safely mix with the world and know how things are going on? I do not require your a.s.sistance, now that I have Pablo, who is more useful every day. Do not lose such an opportunity of making a friend for yourself and all of us-a protector, I may say-and who is, by what he has confided to you, any thing but approving of the conduct of the present government. He has paid you a deserved compliment by saying that he can and will trust you. You must not refuse the offer, Edward-it would really be folly if you did.”
”I believe you are right, Humphrey; but I have been so accustomed to range the forest-I am so fond of the chase-I am so impatient of control or confinement, that I hardly know how to decide. A secretary's life is any thing but pleasing to me, sitting at a table writing and reading all day long. The pen is a poor exchange for the long-barreled gun.”
”It does more execution, nevertheless,” replied Humphrey, ”if what I have read is true. But you are not to suppose that your life will be such a sedentary one. Did he not say that he would have to trust you with missions of importance? Will you not, by going to London and other places, and mixing with people of importance, be preparing yourself for your proper station in life, which I trust that one day you will resume? And does it follow, that because you are appointed a secretary, you are not to go out in the forest and shoot a deer with Oswald, if you feel inclined-with this difference, that you may do it then without fear of being insulted or persecuted by such a wretch as that Corbould? Do not hesitate any longer, my dear brother; recollect that our sisters ought not to live this forest life as they advance in years-they were not born for it, although they have so well conformed to it. It depends upon you to release them eventually from their false position; and you can never have such an opening as is now offered you, by one whose grat.i.tude alone will make him anxious to serve you.”