"
"Why, what have you to get ready?" said Clara.
"I must not appear in a forester's dress, my little Clara. I can wear
that with a gun in my hand, but not with a pen: so I must go to
Lymington and see what a tailor can do for me."
"You will feel as strange in a secretary's dress as I did in boys'
clothes," said Clara. "Perhaps I may," said Edward, although he felt
that such would not be the case, having been accustomed to much better
clothes when at Arnwood than what were usually worn by secretaries;
and this remembrance brought back Arnwood in its train, and Edward
became silent and pensive.
Patience observed it, and after a time said--
"You will be able to watch over your sisters, Mr. Armitage, as well
here, almost, as if you were at the cottage. You do not return till
to-morrow? How did you come over?" "I rode the pony Billy, Mistress
Patience."
"Why do you call her Mistress Patience, Edward?" said Clara. "You call
me Clara; why not call her Patience?"
"You forget that I am only a forester, Clara," replied Edward, with a
grave smile.
"No, you are a secretary now," replied Clara.
"Mistress Patience is older than you by several years. I call you
Clara, because you are but a little girl; but I must not take that
liberty with Mistress Heatherstone.
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