"Why, did you not tell Pablo that he looked well in his new clothes?"
"Yes, but Pablo is not Mr. Armitage, Clara. That is very different."
"Well, it may be, but still you might answer a question, if put to you, Patience: and I ask again, does not Edward look much better in the dress he has on than in the one that he has generally worn?"
"I think it a becoming dress, Clara, since you will have an answer."
"Fine feathers make fine birds, Clara," said Edward, laughing; "and so that is all we can say about it."
Edward then changed the conversation. Soon afterward dinner was announced, and Clara again observed to Edward,
"Why do you always call Patience Mistress Heatherstone? Ought he not to call her Patience, sir?" said Clara, appealing to the intendant.
"That must depend upon his own feelings, my dear Clara," replied Mr. Heatherstone. "It is my intention to wave ceremony as much as possible. Edward Armitage has come to live with us as one of the family, and he will find himself treated by me as one of us. I shall, therefore, in future address him as Edward; and he has my full permission, and I may say it is my wish, that he should be on the same familiar terms with us all. When Edward feels inclined to address my daughter as he does you, by her name of baptism, he will, I dare say, now that he has heard my opinion, do so; and reserve 'Mistress Heatherstone,' for the time when they have a quarrel."
"Then I hope he will never again address me that way," observed Patience, "for I am under too great obligations to him to bear even the idea of being on bad terms with him."
"Do you hear that, Edward?" said Clara.