Part 47 (2/2)
”That very good idea-save trouble,” said Pablo. ”And what you do with cows, suppose no make b.u.t.ter?”
”Keep them, and sell their calves; keep them to entice the wild cattle into the pen.”
”Yes, that good. And turn out old Billy to 'tice ponies into pen,” continued Pablo, laughing.
”Yes, we will try it.”
We must now return to the intendant's house. Oswald delivered the letter to the intendant, who read it with much astonishment.
”Gone! is he actually gone?” said Mr. Heatherstone.
”Yes, sir, before daylight this morning.”
”And why was I not informed of it?” said Mr. Heatherstone; ”why have you been a party to this proceeding, being my servant?-may I inquire that?”
”I knew Master Edward before I knew you, sir,” replied Oswald.
”Then you had better follow him,” rejoined the intendant, in an angry tone.
”Very well, sir,” replied Oswald, who quitted the room.
”Good Heaven! how all my plans have been frustrated!” exclaimed the intendant, when he was alone. He then read the letter over more carefully than he had done at first. ”'Circ.u.mstances had occurred of which no explanation could be given by him.' I do not comprehend that-I must see Patience.”
Mr. Heatherstone opened the door, and called to his daughter.
”Patience,” said Mr. Heatherstone, ”Edward has left the house this morning; here is a letter which he has written to me. Read it, and let me know if you can explain some portion of it, which to me is incomprehensible. Sit down and read it attentively.”
Patience, who was much agitated, gladly took the seat and perused Edward's letter. When she had done so, she let it drop in her lap and covered all her face, the tears trickling through her fingers. After a time, the intendant said,
”Patience, has any thing pa.s.sed between you and Edward Armitage?”
Patience made no reply, but sobbed aloud. She might not have shown so much emotion, but it must be remembered that for the last three weeks since Edward had spoken to her, and during his subsequent illness, she had been very unhappy. The reserve of Humphrey, the expressions he had made use of, his repulse of Clara, and her not having seen anything of Edward during his illness, added to his sudden and unexpected departure without a word to her, had broken her spirits, and she sank beneath the load of sorrow.
The intendant left her to recover herself before he again addressed her. When she had ceased sobbing, her father spoke to her in a very kind voice, begging her that she would not conceal any thing from him, as it was most important to him that the real facts should be known.
”Now tell me, my child, what pa.s.sed between Edward and you.”
”He told me, just before you came up to us that evening, that he loved me.”
”And what was your reply?”
”I hardly know, my dear father, what it was that I said. I did not like to be unkind to one who saved my life, and I did not choose to say what I thought because-because-because he was of low birth; and how could I give encouragement to the son of a forester without your permission?”
”Then you rejected him?”
”I suppose I did, or that he considered that I did so. He had a secret of importance that he would have confided to me had you not interrupted us.”
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