"Patience," said Mr. Heatherstone, "Edward has left the house this
morning; here is a letter which he has written to me. Read it, and let
me know if you can explain some portion of it, which to me is
incomprehensible. Sit down and read it attentively."
Patience, who was much agitated, gladly took the seat and perused
Edward's letter. When she had done so, she let it drop in her lap and
covered all her face, the tears trickling through her fingers. After a
time, the intendant said,
"Patience, has any thing passed between you and Edward Armitage?"
Patience made no reply, but sobbed aloud. She might not have shown so
much emotion, but it must be remembered that for the last three weeks
since Edward had spoken to her, and during his subsequent illness, she
had been very unhappy. The reserve of Humphrey, the expressions he had
made use of, his repulse of Clara, and her not having seen anything of
Edward during his illness, added to his sudden and unexpected
departure without a word to her, had broken her spirits, and she sank
beneath the load of sorrow.
The intendant left her to recover herself before he again addressed
her. When she had ceased sobbing, her father spoke to her in a very
kind voice, begging her that she would not conceal any thing from him,
as it was most important to him that the real facts should be known.
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