I therefore claimed
it for myself, and succeeded. I had made up my mind that he was
attached to you, and you were equally so to him; and as soon as I had
the grant sent down, which was on the evening he addressed you, I made
known to him that the property was given to me; and I added, on some
dry questions being put to me by him, relative to the possibility of
there being still existing an heir to the estate, that there was no
chance of that, and that you would be the mistress of Arnwood. I threw
it out as a hint to him, fancying that, as far as you were concerned,
all would go well, and that I would explain to him my knowledge of who
he was, after he had made known his regard for you."
"Yes, I see it all now," replied Patience; "in one hour he is rejected
by me, and in the next he is told that I have obtained possession of
his property. No wonder that he is indignant, and looks upon us with
scorn. And now he has left us; we have driven him into danger, and may
never see him again. Oh, father! I am very, very miserable!"
"We must hope for the best, Patience. It is true that he has gone to
the wars, but it does not therefore follow that he is to be killed.
You are both very young--much too young to marry--and all may be
explained.
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