and you they cannot touch, as you have done
nothing to offend them; but still they will take possession of your
father's property as soon as they know of his death, and find out who he
was. This, for your sake, I wish to prevent them from doing, and have
therefore sent for the cart, that I may remove to my cottage everything
that is of value, that it may be held for your benefit; some day or
another you may require it. The murder having been committed in the
forest, and I having been a witness, and, moreover, having shot one of
the robbers, I have considered it right to send over to the Intendant of
the forest to give him notice of what has taken place within his
jurisdiction. I do not think he is so bad a man as the rest; but still,
when he comes here, he may consider it his duty to take possession of
everything for the Parliament, as I have no doubt such are his orders,
or will be when he communicates with the Parliament. Now this is a
robbery which I wish to prevent, by carrying away your property before
they come over, which they will to-morrow, and I propose that you shall
accompany me, with all that you can take away, or that may be useful,
this evening."

"You are very kind," replied the boy. "I will do all you wish; but I
feel very weak, and very unwell."

"You must exert yourself for your own sake, my poor fellow. Come, now,
sit up and put all your own clothes together. Collect everything in
this room, while I look about the house. And tell me, had not your
father some money? For the robbers said that they saw him counting it
out of a sack, through the chinks of the shutters, and that was why they
made the attack."

"Hateful money!" cried the boy. "Yes, he had, I believe, a great deal
of money; but I cannot say how much."

"Now get up, and do as I request, my dear boy," said Edward, raising him
up in his arms; "when your grief is lessened, you may have many happy
days yet in store for you; you have a Father in heaven that you must put
your trust in, and with Him you will find peace."

The boy rose up, and Edward closed the door of the chamber, that he
might not see his father's corpse.

"I do put my trust in Heaven, good sir," replied the boy, "for it has
already sent me a kind friend in my distress. You are good, I am sure;
I see that in your face. Alas! How much more wretched would have been
my condition if you had not fortunately come to our assistance! Too
late, indeed, to save my poor