WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 135

 

Edith bent her head, thoughtfully, for some mo-
ments. She then said—

“Do you believe that Mr. Jasper gave the true
reason for wishing to have Fanny ?”’

“That he might superintend her education ?”

s¢ Yes.”

‘No, Edith, I do not. I believe a selfish motive
alone influenced him.”

‘You have good reasons for so thinking ?””

‘The best of reasons. I need not repeat them;
they are as familiar to you as they are to me.”’

‘“‘Do you believe.that, under his superintendence,
she will receive a better education than under
ours ?”

‘She will, undoubtedly, Edith, if remaining with
us she fails to bring the means of education. We
are poor, Edith, and the claims of our own children
—bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh—must
not be forgotten.”

A quick change passed over Edith. Her counte-
nance became troubled. The difficulties in the way
of retaining the child were suddenly magnified to
her thoughts. Ah! how painfully did she feel that
often the first gipps in the way of duty are among
thorns.

“Can we be just to Fanny and just also to our
own children?” asked Claire.

“Tf we still received the old sum for her main-
tenance, we could. I would not ask its increase to
the amount of a single dollar.’

“Nor I, Edith. Were we certain of having this
continued, there would be no doubt.’”

“There would be none in my mind. As for