"Oh, but you will not poach, I'm sure; and if you do, I'll beg you off
if I can," replied the girl, laughing.
Edward followed her into the kitchen, and she soon produced a cold
fowl and a venison pasty, which she placed on the table; she then went
out and returned with a jug of ale.
"There," said she, putting it on the table, "that is all that I can
find.".
"Your father's name is Heatherstone, I believe. It was so on the
warrant."
"Yes, it is."
"And yours?"
"The same as my father's, I should presume."
"Yes, but your baptismal name?"
"You ask strange questions, young sir; but still I will answer you
that: my baptismal name is Patience."
"I thank you for your condescension," replied Edward "You live here?"
"For the present, good sir; and now I leave you."
"That's a nice little girl, thought Edward, although she is the
daughter of a Roundhead; and she calls me 'Sir.' I can not, therefore,
look like Jacob's grandson, and must be careful." Edward then set to
with a good appetite at the viands which had been placed before him,
and had just finished a hearty meal when Patience Heatherstone again
came in and said:
"Oswald Partridge is now coming home."
"I thank you, maiden," replied Edward. "May I ask a question of you?
Where is the king now?"
"I have heard that he resides at Hurst Castle," replied the girl;
"but," added she in a low tone, "all attempts to see him would be
useless and only hurt him and those who made the attempt.
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