gain by her
company now and then. No! I will leave Mistress Heatherstone for you;
I am in love with little Clara."

"Not a bad choice, Humphrey: we both aspire high, for two young
foresters, do we not? However, they say `Every dog has his day,' and
Cromwell and his parliament may have theirs. King Charles may be on his
throne again now, long before--you catch a forest pony, Humphrey."

"I hope he will, Edward: but recollect how you laughed at the idea of my
catching a cow--you may be surprised a second time. `Where there is a
will there is a way,' the saying is. But I must go and help Alice with
the heifer; she is not very quiet yet, and I see her going out with her
pail."

The brothers then parted, and Edward walked about, turning over in his
mind the events of the day, and very often finding his thoughts broken
in upon by sudden visions of Patience Heatherstone--and certainly the
remembrance of her was to him the most satisfactory and pleasing portion
of the prospect in his offered situation.

"I shall live with her, and be continually in her company," thought he.
"Well, I would take a less pleasing office if only for that. She
requested me to accept it to oblige her, and I will do so. How hasty we
are in our conclusions! When I first saw her father, what an aversion I
felt for him! Now, the more I know him, the more I like him, nay,
more--respect him. He said that the king wished to be absolute, and
wrest the liberties from his subjects, and that they were justified in
opposing him; I never heard that when at Arnwood."

"If so, was it lawful so to do?"

"I think it was, but not to murder him; that I can never admit, nor does
the Intendant: on the contrary, he holds his murderers in as great
detestation as I do. Why, then, we do not think far apart from one
another. At the commencement, the two parties were--those who supported
him, not admitting that he was right, but too loyal to refuse to fight
for their king--and those who opposed, hoping to force him to do right;
the king for his supposed prerogatives, the people for their liberties.
The king was obstinate, the people resolute, until virulent warfare
inflamed both parties, and neither would listen to reason; and the
people gained the upper hand, they wreaked their vengeance, instead of
looking to the dictates of humanity and justice. How easy it had been
to have deposed him, and have sent him beyond the seas! Instead of
which they detained h