Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/308

 Edward then produced the letter he had received from Chaloner, requesting that the Intendant would have the kindness to forward it.

"I see," replied the Intendant; "I can forward these through Langton. I presume it is to obtain credit for money. It shall go on Thursday."

The conference was then broken up, and Edward went to see Oswald.  

several days Edward remained at home, anxiously awaiting every news which arrived; expecting every time that the capture of the King would be announced, and, with great joy, finding that hitherto all efforts had been unsuccessful. But there was a question which now arose in Edward's mind, and which was the cause of deep reflection. Since the proposal of sending his sisters away had been started, he felt the great inconvenience of his still representing himself to the Intendant as the grandson of Armitage. His sisters, if sent to the ladies at Portlake, must be sent without the knowledge of the Intendant; and if so, the discovery of their absence would soon take place, as Patience Heatherstone would be constantly going over to the cottage; and he now asked himself the question, whether, after all the kindness and confidence which the Intendant had shown him, he was right in any longer concealing from him his birth and parentage. He felt that he was doing the Indentant an injustice, in not showing to him that confidence which he deserved.

That he was justified in so doing at first, he felt; but since the joining the King's army, and the events which had followed, he considered that he was treating the Intendant ill, and he now resolved to take the first opportunity of making the confession. But to do it formally, and without some opportunity which might 