am convinced that he would never betray the king if he knew
where he was. I say, therefore, if that is your secret, keep it from
him, for his sake and for mine, Edward, if you regard me."

"You know not how much I regard you, Patience. I saw many high-born
women when I was away, but none could I see equal to Patience
Heatherstone, in my opinion; and Patience was ever in my thoughts during
my long absence."

"I thank you for your kind feelings towards me," replied Patience; "but,
Master Armitage, we were talking about your secret."

"Master Armitage!" rejoined Edward; "how well you know how to remind me,
by that expression, of my obscure birth and parentage, whenever I am apt
to forget the distance which I ought to observe!"

"You are wrong!" replied Patience; "but you flattered me so grossly that
I called you Master Armitage to show that I disliked flattery; that was
all. I dislike flattery from those who are above me in rank, as well as
those who are below me; and I should have done the same to any other
person, whatever his condition might be. But forget what I said; I did
not mean to vex you, only to punish you for thinking me so silly as to
believe such nonsense."

"Your humility may construe that into flattery which was said by me in
perfect sincerity and truth--that I cannot help," replied Edward. "I
might have added much more, and yet have been sincere; if you had not
reminded me of my not being of gentle birth I might have had the
presumption to have told you much more; but I have been rebuked."

Edward finished speaking, and Patience made no reply: they walked on for
several moments without exchanging another syllable. At last Patience
said--

"I will not say who is wrong, Edward; but this I do know, that the one
who first offers the olive-branch after a misunderstanding cannot but be
right. I offer it now, and ask you whether we are to quarrel about one
little word. Let me ask you, and give me a candid answer: Have I ever
been so base as to treat as an inferior one to whom I have been so much
obliged?"

"It is I who am in fault, Patience," replied Edward. "I have been
dreaming for a long while, pleased with my dreams; and forgetting that
they were dreams, and not likely to be realised. I must now speak
plainly. I love you, Patience; love you so much that to part from you
would be misery--to know that my love was rejected, as bitter as death.
That is the truth, and I can conceal it no longer