"
Humphrey nodded and turned away, and Edward re-entered the cottage.
He found the intendant was standing over the corpse; he had removed
the coverlid, and was looking mournfully down on the face disfigured
with blood. Perceiving the entrance of Edward, he again took his seat
at the table, and after a pause said,
"Edward Armitage, that you have been brought up very superior to your
station in life is certain; and that you are loyal, bold, and resolute
is equally so; you have put me under an obligation which I never can
repay, even if you allowed me to exert myself in your behalf. I take
this opportunity of acknowledging it; and now allow me to say, that,
for these times, you are much too frank and impetuous. This is no time
for people to give vent to their feelings and opinions. Even I am as
much surrounded with spies as others, and am obliged to behave myself
accordingly. Your avowed attachment to the king's cause has prevented
me from showing that more than cordiality that I really feel for you,
and to which you are in every way entitled."
"I can not conceal my opinions, sir; I was brought up in the house of
a loyal Cavalier, and never will be otherwise."
"Granted--why should you be? but do you not yourself see that you do
the cause more harm than good by thus avowing your opinions when such
avowal is useless? If every other man in the county, who is of your
opinion, was to express himself, now that your cause is hopeless, as
you have done, the prisons would be crowded, the executions would be
dayly, and the cause would be, in proportion, weakened by the loss of
the most daring.
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