have much on my conscience, and do not know
how to act. I want an adviser and a friend, and know not where to find
one."

"Surely, Edward, my father is your sincere friend, and not a bad
adviser."

"I grant it; but the question is between your father and me, and I
cannot advise with him for that reason."

"Then advise with me, Edward, if it is not a secret of such moment that
it is not to be trusted to a woman: at all events it will be the advice
of a sincere friend; you will give me credit for that."

"Yes, and for much more; for I think I shall have good advice, and will
therefore accept your offer. I feel, Patience, that although I was
justified, on my first acquaintance with your father, in not making
known to him a secret of some importance, yet now that he has put such
implicit confidence in me, I am doing him and myself an injustice in not
making the communication--that is, as far as confidence in him is
concerned, I consider that he has a right to know all, and yet I feel
that it would be prudent on my part that he should not know all, as the
knowledge might implicate him with those with whom he is at present
allied. A secret sometimes is dangerous; and if your father could not
say that on his honour he knew not of the secret, it might harm him if
the secret became afterwards known. Do you understand me?"

"I cannot say that I exactly do; you have a secret that you wish to make
known to my father, and you think the knowledge of it may harm him. I
cannot imagine what kind of secret that may be."

"Well, I can give you a case in point. Suppose now that I knew that
King Charles was hidden in your stable-loft: such might be the case, and
your father be ignorant of it, and his assertion of his ignorance would
be believed; but if I were to tell your father that the king was there,
and it was afterwards discovered, do you not see that by confiding such
a secret to him I should do harm, and perhaps bring him into trouble?"

"I perceive now, Edward; do you mean to say that you know where the king
is concealed? For if you do, I must beg of you not to let my father
know anything about it. As you say, it would put him in a difficult
position, and must eventually harm him much. There is a great
difference between wishing well to a cause and supporting it in person.
My father wishes the king well, I believe, but, at the same time, he
will not take an active part, as you have already seen; at the same
time, I