Possible Clues:

• Nowadays, clothed and buttonholed
• Father is up and clothed so that he may be spoken to
• Spoke to lad left cut and bandaged
• Father, being back with his clothes on, may now be spoken to
• Father, being back with his clothes on, may be spoken to
• Said to be what was on the envelope
• Father is back with his 2 down, so may be spoken to
• Father is back in his clothes, so may be spoken to
• So the envelope must be spoken to
• Father is back in his clothes, so he may be spoken to