I must see Humphrey and be candid with him.".
"But Alice and Edith--where are they gone, father?"
"That I can inform you. I have a letter from Langton on the subject,
for I begged him to find out. He says that there are two young ladies
of the name of Beverley, who have been placed under the charge of his
friends, the Ladies Conynghame, who is aunt to Major Chaloner, who has
been for some time concealed in the forest. But I have letters to
write, my dear Patience. To-morrow, if I live and do well, I will ride
over to the cottage to see Humphrey Beverley."
The intendant kissed his daughter, and she left the room.
Poor Patience! she was glad to be left to herself, and think over this
strange communication. For many days she had felt how fond she had
been of Edward, much more so than she had believed herself to be. "And
now," she thought, "if he really loves me, and hears my father's
explanation, he will come back again." By degrees she recovered her
serenity, and employed herself in her quiet domestic duties.
Mr. Heatherstone rode over to the cottage the next day, where he found
Humphrey busily employed as usual, and, what was very unusual,
extremely grave. It was not a pleasant task for Mr. Heatherstone to
have to explain his conduct to so very young a man as Humphrey, but he
felt that he could not be comfortable until the evil impression
against him was removed, and he knew that Humphrey had a great deal of
sterling good sense.
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