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 intendant an injustice, in not showing to
him that confidence which ho 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 offer, he felt
awkward. At last he thought that he would at once make the confession
to Patience, under the promise of secrecy.
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