"How d'ye do, Humphrey?" said Clara; "and how is your brother this
morning?"
"He is better, Clara, and I hope now out of danger."
"But, Humphrey," continued Clara, "when we came into the room last
night, what made you say what you did?"
"I do not recollect that I said any thing."
"Yes, you did; you said that there were now hopes that your brother
would be able soon to quit this house which he had been so unfortunate
as to enter. Do you recollect?"
"I may have said so, Clara," replied Humphrey; "it was only speaking
my thoughts aloud."
"But why do you think so, Humphrey? Why has Edward been unfortunate in
entering this house? That is what I want to know. Patience cried so
much after she left the room because you said that. Why did you say
so? You did not think so a short time ago."
"No, my dear Clara, I did not, but I do now, and I can not give you my
reasons; so you must say no more about it."
Clara was silent for a time, and then said--
"Patience tells me that your sisters have gone away from the cottage.
You told her father so."
"It is very true; they have gone."
"But why have they gone? What have they gone for? Who is to look after
the cows, and goats, and poultry? Who is to cook your dinner,
Humphrey? What can you do without them, and why did you send them away
without letting me or Patience know that they were going, so that at
least we might have bid them farewell?"
"My dear Clara," replied Humphrey--who, feeling no little difficulty
in replying to all these questions, resolved to cut the matter short,
by appearing to be angry--"you know that you are the daughter of a
gentleman, and so is Patience Heatherstone.
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