ain,
surely Colonel Beverley never intended you for a forester?"

"He did not; I was to have been a soldier as soon as I was old enough to
bear arms."

"Perhaps you are distantly related to the late Colonel Beverley?"

"No; I am not _distantly_ related," replied Edward, who began to feel
uneasy at this close cross-examination; "but still, had Colonel Beverley
been alive, and the king still required his services, I have no doubt
that I should have been serving under him at this time. And now,
Mistress Patience, that I have answered so many questions of yours, may
I be permitted to ask a little about yourself in return? Have you any
brothers?"

"None; I am an only child."

"Have you only one parent alive?"

"Only one."

"What families are you connected with?"

Patience looked up with surprise at this last question--

"My mother's name was Cooper; she was sister to Sir Anthony Ashley
Cooper, who is a person well-known."

"Indeed! Then you are of gentle blood?"

"I believe so," replied Patience, with surprise.

"Thank you for your condescension, Mistress Patience; and now, if you
will permit me, I will take my leave."

"Before you go, let me once more thank you for saving a worthless life,"
said Patience: "well, you must come again when my father is here; he
will be but too glad to have an opportunity of thanking one who has
preserved his only child. Indeed, if you knew my father, you would feel
as much regard for him as I do. He is very good, although he looks so
stern and melancholy; but he has seldom smiled since my poor mother's
death."

"As to your father, Mistress Patience, I will think as well as I can of
one who is joined to a party which I hold in detestation: I can say no
more."

"I must not say all that I know, or you would perhaps find out that he
is not quite so wedded to that party as you suppose. Neither his
brother-in-law nor he are great friends of Cromwell's, I can assure you;
but this in confidence."

"That raises him in my estimation; but why then does he hold office?"

"He did not ask it; it was given to him, I really believe, because they
wished him out of the way; and he accepted it because he was opposed to
what was going on, and wished himself to be away. At least I infer so
much from what I have learnt. It is not an office of power or trust
which leagues him with the present Government."

"No; only one which opposes him to me and my mal-practices," replied
Edward, l