"I have been looking for you; I have news from London which has rejoiced
me much. I have at last obtained what I have some time been trying for;
and, indeed, I may say that your prudence and boldness in returning home
as a trooper, added to your conduct in the forest, has greatly advanced,
and ultimately obtained for me my suit. There was some suspense before
that; but your conduct has removed it; and now we shall have plenty to
do."
They walked to the house, and the Intendant, as soon as he had gained
his own room, said to Edward--
"There is a grant to me of a property which I have long solicited for my
services--read it." Edward took up the letter, in which the Parliament
informed Mr Heatherstone that his application for the property of
Arnwood had been acceded to, and signed by the Commissioners; and that
he might take immediate possession. Edward turned pale as he laid the
document down on the table.
"We will ride to-morrow, Edward, and look it over. I intend to rebuild
the house."
Edward made no reply.
"Are you not well?" said the Intendant, with surprise.
"Yes, sir," replied Edward, "I am well, I believe, but I will confess to
you that I am disappointed. I did not think that you would have
accepted a property from such a source, and so unjustly sequestrated."
"I am sorry, Edward," replied the Intendant, "that I should have fallen
in your good opinion; but allow me to observe that you are so far right,
that I never would have accepted a property to which there were living
claimants; but this is a different case. For instance, the Ratcliffe
property belongs to little Clara and is sequestrated. Do you think I
would accept it? Never! But here is a property without an heir; the
whole family perished in the flames of Arnwood! There is no living
claimant! It must be given to somebody, or remain with the Government.
This property, therefore, and this property only, out of all
sequestrated, I selected; as I felt that, in obtaining it, I did harm to
no one. I have been offered others, but have refused them. I would
accept of this, and this only; and that is the reason why my
applications have hitherto been attended with no success. I trust you
believe me, Edward, in what I assert?"
"First answer me one question, Mr Heatherstone. Suppose it were proved
that the whole of the family did not, as it is supposed, perish at the
conflagration of Arnwood? Suppose a rightful heir to it should at any
time appear, would you then resign the property to him?"
"As I hope for heaven, Edward, I would!" replied the Intendant, solemnly
raising his eyes upwards as he spoke. "I then should think that I had
been an instrument to keep the property out of other hands less
scrupulous, and should surrender it as a trust which had been confided
to me for the time only."
"With such feelings, Mr Heatherstone, I can now congratulate you upon
your having obtained possession of the property," replied Edward.
"And yet I do not deserve so much credit, as there is little chance of
my sincerity being put to the test, Edward. There is no doubt that the
family all perished; and Arnwood will become the dower of Patience
Heatherstone."
Edward's heart beat quick. A moment's thought told him his situation.
He had been prevented, by the interruption of Mr Heatherstone, from
making his confession to Patience; and now he could not make it to
anybody without a rupture with the Intendant, or a compromise, by asking
what he so earnestly desired--the hand of Patience. Mr Heatherstone
observing to Edward that he did not look so well, said supper was ready;
and that they had better go into the next room. Edward mechanically
followed. At supper he was tormented by the incessant inquiries of
Clara, as to what was the matter with him. He did not venture to look
at Patience, and made a hasty retreat to bed; complaining, as he well
might do, of a severe headache.
Edward threw himself on his bed, but to sleep was impossible. He
thought of the events of the day over and over again. Had he any reason
to believe that Patience returned his affection? No: her reply was too
calm, too composed, to make him suppose that; and now that she would be
an heiress, there would be no want of pretenders to her hand; and he
would lose her and his property at the same time. It was true that the
Intendant had declared that he would renounce the property if the true
heir appeared, but that was easy to say upon the conviction that no heir
would appear; and even if he did renounce it, the Parliament would
receive it again, rather than it should fall into the hands of a
Beverley. "Oh that I had never left the cottage," thought Edward. "I
might then at least have become resigned and contented with my lot. Now
I am miserable, and, whichever way I turn, I see no prospect of being
otherwise. One thing only I can decide upon, which is, that I will not
remain any longer than I can help under this roof. I will go over and
consult with Humphrey; and if I can only place my sisters as I want,
Humphrey and I will seek our fortunes."
Edward rose at daylight, and, dressing himself, went down and saddled
his horse. Desiring Sampson to tell the Intendant that he had gone over
to the cottage, and would return by the evening, he rode across the
forest, and arrived just as they were sitting down to breakfast. His
attempts to be cheerful before his sisters did not succeed, and they
were all grieved to see him look so pale and haggard. As soon as
breakfast was over Edward made a sign, and he and Humphrey went out.
"What is the matter, my dear brother?" said Humphrey.
"I will tell you all. Listen to me," replied Edward, who then gave him
the detail of all that had passed, from the time he had walked out with
Patience Heatherstone till he went to bed. "Now, Humphrey, you know
all; and what shall I do? Remain there I cannot!"
"If Patience Heatherstone had professed regard for you," replied
Humphrey, "the affair would have been simple enough. Her father could
have no objections to the match; and he would at the same time have
acquitted his conscience as to the retaining of the property: but you
say she showed none."
"She told me very calmly that she was sorry that I had said what I did."
"But do women always mean what they say, brother?" said Humphrey.
"She does, at all events," replied Edward; "she is truth itself. No, I
cannot deceive myself. She feels a deep debt of gratitude for the
service I rendered her; and that prevented her from being more harsh in
her reply than what she was."
"But if she knew that you were Edward Beverley, do you not think it
would make a difference in her?"
"And if it did, it would be too humiliating to think that I was only
married for my rank and station."
"But, considering you of mean birth, may she not have checked those
feelings which she considered under the circumstances improper to
indulge?"
"Where there is such a sense of propriety there can be little
affection."
"I know nothing about these things, Edward," replied Humphrey; "but I
have been told that a woman's heart is not easily read; or if I have not
been told it, I have read it or dreamt it."
"What do you propose to do?"
"What I fear you will not approve of, Humphrey; it is to break up our
establishment altogether. If the answer is favourable from the Misses
Conynghame, my sisters shall go to them; but that we had agreed upon
already. Then for myself--I intend to go abroad, resume my name, and
obtain employment in some foreign service. I will trust to the king for
assisting me to that."
"That is the worst part of it, Edward; but if your peace of mind depends
upon it, I will not oppose it."
"You, Humphrey, may come with me and share my fortunes, or do what you
think more preferable."
"I think then, Edward, that I shall not decide rashly. I must have
remained here with Pablo, if my sisters had gone to the Ladies
Conynghame and you had remained with the Intendant; I shall, therefore,
till I hear from you, remain where I am, and I shall be able to observe
what is going on here, and let you know."
"Be it so," replied Edward; "let me only see my sisters well placed, and
I shall be off the next day. It is misery to remain there now."
After some more conversation Edward mounted his horse and returned to
the Intendant's. He did not arrive till late, for supper was on the
table. The Intendant gave him a letter for Master Chaloner, which was
enclosed in one from Mr Langton;--and further informed Edward that news
had arrived of the king having made his escape to France.
"Thank God for that!" exclaimed Edward. "With your leave, sir, I will
to-morrow deliver this letter to the party to whom it is addressed, as I
know it to be of consequence."
The Intendant having given his consent, Edward retired without having
exchanged a word with Patience or Clara beyond the usual civilities of
the table.
The following morning Edward, who had not slept an hour during the
night, set off for Clara's cottage, and found Chaloner and Grenville
still in bed. At the sound of his voice the door was opened, and he
gave Chaloner the letter; the latter read it and then handed it to
Edward. The Misses Conynghame were delighted at the idea of receiving
the two daughters of Colonel Beverley, and would treat them as their
own; they requested that they might be sent to London immediately, where
the coach would meet them to convey them down to Lancashire. They
begged to be kindly remembered to Captain Beverley, and to assure him
that his sisters should be well cared for.
"I am much indebted to you, Chaloner," said Edward; "I will send my
brother off with my sisters as soon as possible. You will soon think of
returning to France; and if you will permit me, I will accompany you."
"You, Edward! That will be delightful; but you had no idea of the kind
when last we met. What has induced you to alter your mind?"
"I will tell you by and by; I do not think I shall be here again for
some days. I must be a great deal at the cottage when Humphrey is away;
for Pablo will have a great charge upon him--what with the dairy, and
horses, and breed of goats, and other things--more than he can attend
to; but as soon as Humphrey returns, I will come to you and make
preparations for our departure. Till then farewell, both of you. We
must see to provision you for three weeks or a month before Humphrey
starts."
Edward bade them a hearty farewell, and then rode to the cottage.
Although Alice and Edith had been somewhat prepared for leaving the
cottage, yet the time was so very uncertain, that the blow fell heavy
upon them. They were to leave their brothers, whom they loved so
dearly, to go to strangers; and when they understood that they were to
leave in two days, and that they should not see Edward again, their
grief was very great; but Edward reasoned with Alice and consoled her,
although with Edith it was a more difficult task. She not only lamented
her brothers, but her cow, her pony, and her kids; all the dumb animals
were friends and favourites of Edith; and even the idea of parting with
Pablo was the cause of a fresh burst of tears. Having made every
arrangement with Humphrey, Edward once more took his leave, promising to
come over and assist Pablo as soon as he could.
The next day Humphrey was busied in his preparations. They supplied the
provisions to Clara's cottage; and when Pablo took them over in the
cart, Humphrey rode to Lymington and provided a conveyance to London for
the following day. We may as well observe that they set off at the hour
appointed, and arrived safely at London in three days. There, at an
address given in the letter, they found the coach waiting; and having
given his sisters into the charge of an elderly waiting-woman, who had
come up in the coach to take charge of them, they quitted him with many
tears, and Humphrey hastened back to the New Forest.
On his return he found, to his surprise, that Edward had not called at
the cottage as he had promised; and, with a mind foreboding evil, he
mounted a horse and set off across the forest to ascertain the cause.
As he was close to the Intendant's house he was met by Oswald, who
informed him that Edward had been seized with a violent fever, and was
in a very dangerous state, having been delirious for three or four days.
Humphrey hastened to dismount, and knocked at the door of the house; it
was opened by Sampson, and Humphrey requested to be shown up to his
brother's room. He found Edward in the state described by Oswald, and
wholly unconscious of his presence; the maid, Phoebe, was by his
bedside.
"You may leave," said Humphrey, rather abruptly; "I am his brother."
Phoebe retired, and Humphrey was alone with his brother.
"It was, indeed, an unhappy day when you came to this house," exclaimed
Humphrey, as the tears rolled down his cheeks; "my poor, poor Edward."
Edward now began to talk incoherently, and attempted to rise from the
bed, but his efforts were unavailing--he was too weak; but he raved of
Patience Heatherstone, and he called himself Edward Beverley more than
once, and he talked of his father and of Arnwood.
"If he has raved in this manner," thought Humphrey, "he has not many
secrets left to disclose. I will not leave him, and will keep others
away if I can."
Humphrey had been sitting an hour with his brother, when the surgeon
came to see his patient. He felt his pulse, and asked Humphrey if he
was nursing him.
"I am his brother, sir," replied Humphrey.
"Then, my good sir, if you perceive any signs of perspiration--and I
think now that there is a little--keep the clothes on him and let him
perspire freely. If so, his life will be saved."
The surgeon withdrew, saying that he would return again late in the
evening.
Humphrey remained for another two hours at the bedside, and then feeling
that there was a sign of perspiration, he obeyed the injunctions of the
surgeon, and held on the clothes, against all Edward's endeavours to
throw them off. For a short time the perspiration was profuse, and the
restlessness of Edward subsided into a deep slumber.
"Thank Heaven! There are then hopes."
"Did you say there were hopes?" repeated a voice behind him.
Humphrey turned, and perceived Patience and Clara behind him, who had
come in without his observing it.
"Yes," replied Humphrey, looking reproachfully at Patience, "there are
hopes, by what the surgeon said to me--hopes that he may yet be able to
quit this house, which he was so unfortunate as to enter."
This was a harsh and rude speech of Humphrey's; but he considered that
Patience Heatherstone had been the cause of his brother's dangerous
state, and that she had not behaved well to him.
Patience made no reply, but falling down on her knees by the bedside,
prayed silently; and Humphrey's heart smote him for what he had said to
her. "She cannot be so bad," thought Humphrey, as Patience and Clara
quitted the room without the least noise.
Shortly afterwards the Intendant came up into the room, and offered his
hand to Humphrey, who pretended not to see it, and did not take it.
"He has got Arnwood; that is enough for him," thought Humphrey; "but my
hand in friendship he shall not receive."
The Intendant put his hand within the clothes, and feeling the high
perspiration in which Edward was in, said--
"I thank thee, O God! For all Thy mercies, and that Thou hast been
pleased to spare this valuable life."
"How are your sisters, Master Humphrey?" said the Intendant; "my
daughter bade me inquire. I will send over to them and let them know
that your brother is better, if you do not leave this for the cottage
yourself after the surgeon has called again."
"My sisters are no longer at the cottage, Mr Heatherstone," replied
Humphrey; "they have gone to some friends who have taken charge of them.
I saw them safe to London myself, or I should have known of my
brother's illness and have been here before this."
"You indeed tell me news, Master Humphrey," replied the Intendant.
"With whom, may I ask, are your sisters placed, and in what capacity are
they gone?"
This reply of the Intendant's reminded Humphrey that he had somewhat
committed himself, as being supposed to be the daughters of a forester,
it was not to be thought that they had gone up to be educated; and he
therefore replied--
"They found it lonely in the forest, Mr Heatherstone, and wished to see
London; so we have taken them there, and put them into the care of those
who have promised that they shall be well placed."
The Intendant appeared to be much disturbed and surprised, but he said
nothing, and soon afterwards quitted the room. He almost immediately
returned with the surgeon, who, as soon as he felt Edward's pulse,
declared that the crisis was over, and that when he awoke he would be
quite sensible. Having given directions as to the drink of his patient,
and some medicine which he was to take, the surgeon then left, stating
that he should not call until the next evening, unless he was sent for,
as he considered all danger over.
Edward continued in a quiet slumber for the major portion of the night.
It was just break of day when he opened his eyes. Humphrey offered him
some drink, which Edward took greedily; and seeing Humphrey, said--
"Oh, Humphrey, I had quite forgotten where I was--I'm so sleepy!" and
with these words his head fell on the pillow, and he was again asleep.