Part 31 (2/2)
”You are right, Humphrey, and I will accept the offer; I can but return to you if things do not go on well.”
”I thank you sincerely for your decision, Edward,” replied Humphrey. ”What a sweet girl that Patience Heatherstone is! I think I never saw such an enchanting smile!”
Edward thought of the smile she gave him when they parted but an hour ago, and agreed with Humphrey, but he replied-
”Why, brother, you are really in love with the intendant's daughter.”
”Not so, my dear brother; but I am in love with her goodness and sweetness of disposition, and so are Alice and Edith, I can tell you. She has promised to come over and see them, and bring them flowers for their garden, and I hardly know what; and I am very glad of it, as my sisters have been buried here so long, that they can not but gain by her company now and then. No! I will leave Mistress Heatherstone for you; I am in love with little Clara.”
”Not a bad choice, Humphrey: we both aspire high, for two young foresters, do we not? However, they say 'Every dog has his day,' and Cromwell and his Parliament may have theirs. King Charles may be on his throne again now, long before you catch a forest pony, Humphrey.”
”I hope he will, Edward; but recollect how you laughed at the idea of my catching a cow-you may be surprised a second time. 'Where there is a will there is a way,' the saying is. But I must go and help Alice with the heifer: she is not very quiet yet, and I see her going out with her pail.”
The brothers then parted, and Edward then walked about, turning over in his mind the events of the day, and very often finding his thoughts broken in upon by sudden visions of Patience Heatherstone-and certainly the remembrance of her was to him the most satisfactory and pleasing portion of the prospect in his offered situation.
”I shall live with her, and be continually in her company,” thought he. ”Well, I would take a less pleasing office if only for that. She requested me to accept it to oblige her, and I will do so. How hasty we are in our conclusions! When I first saw her father, what an aversion I felt for him! Now, the more I know him the more I like him, nay, more-respect him. He said that the king wished to be absolute, and wrest the liberties from his subjects, and that they were justified in opposing him; I never heard that when at Arnwood.”
”If so, was it lawful so to do?”
”I think it was, but not to murder him; that I can never admit, nor does the intendant; on the contrary, he holds his murderers in as great detestation as I do. Why, then, we do not think far apart from one another. At the commencement, the two parties were those who supported him, not admitting that he was right, but too loyal to refuse to fight for their king; and those who opposed, hoping to force him to do right; the king for his supposed prerogatives, the people for their liberties. The king was obstinate, the people resolute, until virulent warfare inflamed both parties, and neither would listen to reason; and the people gained the upper hand-they wreaked their vengeance, instead of looking to the dictates of humanity and justice. How easy it had been to have deposed him, and have sent him beyond the seas! instead of which they detained him a prisoner and then murdered him. The punishment was greater than the offense, and dictated by malice and revenge; it was a diabolical act, and will soil the page of our nation's history.” So thought Edward, as he paced before the cottage, until he was summoned in by Pablo to their evening meal.
CHAPTER XVIII.
”Edward,” said Edith, ”scold Pablo; he has been ill-treating my poor cat; he is a cruel boy.”
Pablo laughed.
”See, Edward, he's laughing; put him in the pitfall again, and let him stay there till he says he's sorry.”
”I very sorry now, Missy Edith-but cat bite me,” said Pablo.
”Well, if p.u.s.s.y did, it didn't hurt you much; and what did I tell you this morning out of the Bible?-that you must forgive them who behave ill to you.”
”Yes, Missy Edith, you tell me all that, and so I do; I forgive p.u.s.s.y 'cause she bite me, but I kick her for it.”
”That's not forgiveness, is it, Edward? You should have forgiven it at once, and not kicked it at all.”
”Miss Edith, when p.u.s.s.y bite me, p.u.s.s.y hurt me, make me angry, and I give her a kick; then I think what you tell me, and I do as you tell me. I forgive p.u.s.s.y with all my heart.”
”I think you must forgive Pablo, Edith,” said Edward, ”if it is only to set him a good example.”
”Well, I will this time; but if he kicks p.u.s.s.y again he must be put in the pitfall-mind that, Pablo.”
”Yes, Missy Edith, I go into pitfall, and then you cry, and ask Master Edward to take me out. When you have me put in pitfall, then you not good Christian, 'cause you not forgive; when you cry and take me out, then you good Christian once more.”
By this conversation it will appear to the reader that they had been trying to impress Pablo with the principles of the Christian religion-and such was the case; Edith having been one of the most active in the endeavor, although very young for a missionary. However, Alice and Humphrey had been more successful, and Pablo was now beginning to comprehend what they had attempted to instill, and was really progressing dayly.
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