verderer did the same; and then they walked side by side, Edward keeping
at the distance of three yards from him, in case of treachery.

After a few moments' silence, the verderer said, "You tell me you are
going to the Intendant's house; he is not at home."

"But young Mistress Patience is, I presume," said Edward.

"Yes," replied the man, who, finding that Edward appeared to know so
much about the Intendant's family, began to be more civil. "Yes, she is
at home, for I saw her in the garden this morning."

"And Oswald, is he at home?" rejoined Edward.

"Yes, he is. You appear to know our people, young man; who may you be,
if it is a fair question?"

"It would have been a fair question had you treated me fairly," replied
Edward; "but as it is no concern of yours, I shall leave you to find it
out."

This reply puzzled the man still more; and he now, from the tone of
authority assumed by Edward, began to imagine that he had made some
mistake, and that he was speaking to a superior, although clad in a
forester's dress. He therefore answered humbly, observing that he had
only been doing his duty.

Edward walked on without making any reply.

As they arrived within a hundred yards of the Intendant's house, Edward
said:

"I have now arrived at my destination, and am going into that house, as
I told you. Do you choose to enter it with me, or will you go to Oswald
Partridge and tell him that you have met with Edward Armitage in me
forest, and that I should be glad to see him? I believe you are under
his orders, are you not?"

"Yes, I am," replied the verderer, "and as I suppose that all's right, I
shall go and deliver your message."

Edward then turned away from the man, and went into the wicket-gate of
the garden, and knocked at the door of the house. The door was opened
by Patience Heatherstone herself, who said, "Oh, how glad I am to see
you! Come in." Edward took off his hat and bowed; Patience led the way
into her father's study, where Edward had been first received.

"And now," said Patience, extending her hand to Edward, "thanks, many
thanks, for your preserving me from so dreadful a death. You don't know
how unhappy I have been at not being able to give you my poor thanks for
your courageous behaviour."

Her hand still remained in Edward's while she said this.

"You rate what I did too highly," replied Edward; "I would have done the
same for any one in such distress: it was my duty as a--man,"