Part 36 (1/2)
”Yes, and they are improved in appearance already since they have been here. Alice has got her geese and ducks, and I have made a place large enough for them to wash in, until I have time to dig them out a pond.”
”I thought we had gathered more hay than you required; but with this addition, I think you will find none to spare before the spring.”
”So far from it, that I have been mowing down a great deal more, Edward, and it is almost ready to carry away. Poor Billy has had hard work of it, I a.s.sure you, since he came back, with one thing and another.”
”Poor fellow! but it won't last long, Humphrey,” said Edward, smiling; ”the other horses will soon take his place.”
”I trust they will,” said Humphrey, ”at all events by next spring; before that I do not expect that they will.”
”By-the-by, Humphrey, you recollect what I said to you that the robber I shot told me just before he died.”
”Yes, I do recollect it now,” replied Humphrey; ”but I had quite forgotten all about it till you mentioned it now, although I wrote it down that we might not forget it.”
”Well, I have been thinking all about it, Humphrey. The robber told me that the money was mine, taking me for another person; therefore I do not consider it was given to me, nor do I consider that it was his to give. I hardly know what to do about it, nor to whom the money can be said to belong.”
”Well, I think I can answer that question. The property of all malefactors belongs to the king; and therefore this money belongs to the king; and we may retain it for the king, or use it for his service.”
”Yes, it would have belonged to the king, had the man been condemned, and hung on the gallows as he deserved; but he was not, and therefore I think that it does not belong to the king.”
”Then it belongs to whoever finds it, and who keeps it till it is claimed-which will never be.”
”I think I must speak to the intendant about it,” replied Edward; ”I should feel more comfortable.”
”Then do so,” replied Humphrey; ”I think you are right to have no concealments from him.”
”But, Humphrey,” replied Edward, laughing, ”what silly fellows we are! we do not yet know whether we shall find any thing; we must first see if there is any thing buried there; and when we have done so, then we will decide how to act. I shall, if it please G.o.d, be over again in a fortnight, and in the mean time, do you find out the place, and ascertain if what the fellow said is true.”
”I will,” replied Humphrey. ”I will go to-morrow, with Billy and the cart, and take a spade and pickax with me. It may be a fool's errand, but still they say, and one would credit, for the honor of human nature, that the words of a dying man are those of truth. We had better go back now, for I think dinner must be ready.”
Now that they had become so intimate with Patience Heatherstone-and, I may add, so fond of her-there was no longer any restraint, and they had a very merry dinner party; and after dinner, Patience went out with Alice and Edith, and looked over the garden and farm. She wished very much to ascertain if there was any thing that they required, but she could discover but few things, and those only trifles; but she recollected them all, and sent them to the cottage a few days afterward. But the hour of parting arrived, for it was a long ride back, and they could not stay any longer if they wished to get home before dark, as Mr. Heatherstone had requested Edward that they should do; so the horses were brought out, and wis.h.i.+ng good-by, they set off again-little Edith crying after them, ”Come again soon! Patience, you must come again soon!”
CHAPTER XX.
The summer had now advanced, when Oswald one day said to Edward,
”Have you heard the news, sir?”
”Nothing very particular,” replied Edward; ”I know that General Cromwell is over in Ireland, and they say very successful; but I have cared little for particulars.”
”They say a great deal more, sir,” replied Oswald; ”they say that the king is in Scotland, and that the Scotch have raised an army for him.”
”Indeed!” replied Edward, ”that is news indeed! The intendant has never mentioned it to me.”
”I dare say not, sir; for he knows your feelings, and would sorry to part with you.”
”I will certainly speak to him on the subject,” said Edward, at the ”risk of his displeasure; and join the army I will, if I find what you say is true. I should hold myself a craven to remain here while the king is fighting for his own, and not to be at his side.”
”Well, sir, I think it is true, for I heard that the Parliament had sent over for General Cromwell to leave Ireland, and lead the troops against the Scotch army.”