"Now tell me, my child, what passed between Edward and you."
"He told me, just before you came up to us that evening, that he loved
me."
"And what was your reply?"
"I hardly know, my dear father, what it was that I said. I did not
like to be unkind to one who saved my life, and I did not choose to
say what I thought because--because--because he was of low birth; and
how could I give encouragement to the son of a forester without your
permission?"
"Then you rejected him?"
"I suppose I did, or that he considered that I did so. He had a secret
of importance that he would have confided to me had you not
interrupted us."
"And now, Patience, I must request you to answer me one question
candidly. I do not blame you for your conduct, which was correct under
the circumstances. I also had a secret which I perhaps ought to have
confided; but I did consider that the confidence and paternal kindness
with which I treated Edward would have been sufficient to point out to
you that I could not have been very averse to a union; indeed, the
freedom of communication which I allowed between you, must have told
you so: but your sense of duty and propriety has made you act as you
ought to have done, I grant, although contrary to my real wishes.
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