In the forenoon, Mr.
Heatherstone dictated one or two letters to him, which he wrote; and
after that his time was at his own disposal, and was chiefly passed in
the company of Patience and Clara. With the first he had now become on
the most intimate and brotherly footing; and when they addressed each
other, Patience and Edward were the only appellations made use of.
Once Mr. Heatherstone asked Edward whether he would not like to go out
with Oswald to kill a deer, which he did; but the venison was hardly
yet in season. There was a fine horse in the stable at Edward's order,
and he often rode out with Patience and Clara; indeed his time passed
so agreeably that he could hardly think it possible that a fortnight
had passed away, when he asked permission to go over to the cottage
and see his sisters. With the intendant's permission, Patience and
Clara accompanied him; and the joy of Alice and Edith was great when
they made their appearance. Oswald had, by Edward's request, gone over
a day or two before, to tell them that they were coming, that they
might be prepared; and the consequence was, that it was a holyday at
the cottage. Alice had cooked her best dinner, and Humphrey and Pablo
were at home to receive them.
"How pleasant it will be, if we are to see you and Clara whenever we
see Edward!" said Alice to Patience.
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