Humphrey must take the first place. His love of farming
continued. Edward gave him a large farm, rent free; and in a few years
Humphrey saved up sufficient to purchase a property for himself. He
then married Clara Ratcliffe, who has not appeared lately on the
scene, owing to her having been, about two years before the
Restoration, claimed by an elderly relation, who lived in the country,
and whose infirm state of health did not permit him to quit the house.
He left his property to Clara, about a year after her marriage to
Humphrey. The cottage in the New Forest was held by, and eventually
made over to, Pablo, who became a very steady character, and in the
course of time married a young girl from Arnwood, and had a houseful
of young gipsies. Oswald, so soon as Edward came down to Arnwood, gave
up his place in the New Forest, and lived entirely with Edward as his
steward; and Phoebe also went to Arnwood, and lived to a good old age,
in the capacity of housekeeper, her temper becoming rather worse than
better as she advanced in years.
This is all that we have been able to collect relative to the several
parties; and so now we must say farewell.
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Children of the New Forest, by Capt.
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