"
"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 is in confidence.
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