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Page 37
"Oh, Edward!"
"But she is only ten years of age," said the husband, "and our
contract is to keep her until she is twelve."
"We cannot give her up," murmured Edith, tears already beginning to
flow over her cheeks. "I never thought of this. What can it mean?"
"Some sudden determination on the part of Jasper, and based on nothing
good," was the reply. "But, as I said, our contract is binding until
Fanny is twelve years of age, and I will never consent to its being
broken. He was over anxious to hold me in writing. He did not value
his own word, and would not trust mine. It was well. The dear child
shall remain where she is."
"But, after she is twelve, Edward? What then? Oh, I can never part
with her," said Mrs. Claire, now weeping freely.
"Two years will pass ere that time. Jasper may have other purposes in
view when our present contract expires."
"You will see him in the morning?"
"O yes. I must understand all about this matter. What can it mean?
'Needful care to her education!' A mere hypocritical pretence. What
does he care for her, or her education? What, in fact, does he know of
her? Nothing at all. Has he ever called to see her? Has he ever made
the first inquiry after her? No. There is something wrong, without
doubt. This movement bodes no good to our dear child. But she has one
friend who will stand between her and harm--who will protect her, if
need be, at the risk of his own life."
Claire, as his words indicate, had suffered himself to become much
excited. Seeing this, his wife recovered, to some extent, her own
self-possession, and spoke to him soothingly.
"We will wait and see what it means," said she. "Mr. Jasper cannot
force her away from us now, if he would."
"After seeing him to-morrow, you can understand better what we are to
expect. This note may have been written from some momentary feeling. I
cannot think that he has a settled purpose to take the child from us."
"Time will show," was the abstracted response.
Not for years had so unhappy an evening been spent by Edward Claire
and his wife; and when they retired, it was to pass the night in
broken intervals of sleep.
Early on the next morning, Claire called at the store of Jasper, who
received him with cold politeness, and at once came to the matter
uppermost in both their thoughts, by saying--
"You received my note?"
"I did," was the reply.
"Well? All right, I suppose?"
"Fanny is not twelve years of age yet!"
"Isn't she? Well, what of that?" There was some impatience in the
manner of Jasper.
"I agreed to take the care of her until she was twelve."
"Well--well--suppose you did? I'm her guardian, and wish to have her
now in my own family. If you agreed to keep her, I did not say that
she should positively remain."
"There was a contract signed to that effect," firmly replied Claire.
"A contract! Humph! Are you sure?"
"Very sure. You drew it yourself."
"Have you a copy of it?"
"I have."
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