114 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

“Entirely. Whatcanitmean? The thing comes
on me so suddenly that I am bewildered.”’

Claire was distressed.

‘You are still firm in your purpose to keep »
Fanny until she is twelve years old ?”’

‘As firm as ever, Mr. Melleville. I love the
child too well to give her up. Ifa higher good to her
were to be secured, then I might yield—then it
would be my duty to yield. But, now, every just
and humane consideration calls on me to abide by
my purpose—and there I will abide.”’

‘‘In my mind you are fully justified,” was the
reply of Mr. Melleville. ‘Keep me fully advised
of every thing that occurs, and I will aid you as far
as lies in my power. To-day I will call upon Edgar
& Co., and do what I can toward securing for you
the place said by Jasper:to be vacant. I presume
that I have quite as much influence in this quarter
as he has.”

CHAPTER XIII.

ScarceLy had Edward Claire left the store of
Jasper, ere the latter went out hurriedly, and took
his way to the office of Grind, the lawyer, to whom
he said, as he entered—

‘“Tt’s just as I feared. The miserable wretch
proved as intractable asiron.’”’ Jasper was not only
strongly excited, but showed, in his voice and man-
ner, that he had suffered no ordinary disappointment.

‘“‘Couldn’t you buy him over?’ There was a