isfigured with
blood. Perceiving the entrance of Edward, he again took his seat at the
table, and after a pause said--

"Edward Armitage, that you have been brought up very superior to your
station in life is certain; and that you are loyal, bold, and resolute,
is equally so; you have put me under an obligation which I never can
repay, even if you allowed me to exert myself in your behalf. I take
this opportunity of acknowledging it; and now allow me to say that for
these times you are much too frank and impetuous. This is no time for
people to give vent to their feelings and opinions. Even I am as much
surrounded with spies as others, and am obliged to behave myself
accordingly. Your avowed attachment to the king's cause has prevented
me from showing that more than cordiality that I really feel for you,
and to which you are in every way entitled."

"I cannot conceal my opinions, sir; I was brought up in the house of a
loyal cavalier, and never will be otherwise."

"Granted--why should you be? But do you not yourself see that you do
the cause more harm than good by thus avowing your opinions when such
avowal is useless? If any other man in the county, who is of your
opinion, was to express himself, now that your cause is hopeless, as you
have done, the prisons would be crowded, the executions would be daily,
and the cause would be in proportion weakened by the loss of the most
daring. `Bide your time' is a good motto, and I recommend it to you.
You must feel that, however we may be at variance in our opinions,
Edward Armitage, my hand and my authority never can be used against one
to whom I am so indebted; and feeling this, you compel me in the
presence of others to use a harshness and coldness towards you,
contrary--wholly contrary--to what, you may believe me when I say it, I
really feel for one who so nobly rescued my only child."

"I thank you, sir, for your advice, which I feel to be good, and for
your good opinion, which I value."

"And which I feel that you deserve; and you shall have, young as you
are, my confidence, which I know you will not abuse. I did know this
man who now lies dead before us, and I did also know that he was
concealed in this cottage: Major Ratcliffe was one of my earliest and
dearest friends, and until this unhappy civil war, there never was any
difference between us, and even afterwards only in politics, and the
cause we each espoused. I knew, before I came down here as Inte