136 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

the higher position in society which she would attain,
as an inmate of Mr. Jasper’s family, that might not
be to her the greatest good; but prove the most
direful evil. She could not be guarded there, in
her entrance into life, as we would guard her. The
same love would not surround her as a protecting
sphere. I tremble at the thought, Edward. How
great would be her danger! Fourfold would be her
temptation, and tenfold her exposure.”

‘We will keep her,” said Claire, firmly, as his
wife ceased speaking. ‘She must not be so ex-
posed. God has given her to us; she is our
child, for we love her as tenderly as if she were
of our own blood. When her mother was taken,
God transferred the love she had borne her child
into your bosom, and from that time you became
her mother. No, Edith, we must not let her go
forth, in her tender imnocence. We love her as
our own; let us share with her the best we have;
let her become more really our own than she has

et been.”

“Tf,” said Edith, after some moments, “ we lose
the regular income from Mr. Jasper, Fanny will be
deprived of most important advantages. Just now
we are about adding materially to%the cost of her
education.”’

‘“T know,” replied Edward. ‘ But if the come
is withheld ?”

‘We have not yet applied for it.”’

Claire looked, for some moments, steadily into
his wife’s face. |

“You think, then, that we should make the usual
application ?”’ f