"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. You are both of gentle
birth; but my sisters, you know, are only the daughters of a forester,
and my brother Edward and I are no better. It does not become Mistress
Patience and you to be intimate with such as we are, especially now that
Mistress Patience is a great heiress: for her father has obtained the
large property of Arnwood, and it will be hers after his death. It is
not fit that the heiress of Arnwood should mix herself up with
forester's daughters; and as we had friends near Lymington who offered
to assist us, and take our sisters under their charge, we thought it
better that they should go; for what would become of them, if any
accident was to happen to Edward or to me? Now they will be provided
for. After they have been taught, they will make very nice tire-women
to some lady of quality," added Humphrey, with a sneer. "Don't you
think they will, my pretty Clara?"
Clara burst into tears.
"You are very unkind, Humphrey," sobbed she. "You had no right to send
away your sisters. I don't believe you--that's more!" and Clara ran
away into the house.