190 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

affections. You are still our child, bound to us bya
thousand intertwining chords.”

But little more passed between them at this 1n-
terview. Fanny asked for no more particulars, and
Mrs. Claire did not think it necessary to give any
further information. Fanny soon retired to her own
chamber, there to commune with her thoughts, and
to seek, in tears, relief to her oppressed feelings.

The meeting of Claire with Fanny, on his return
home, was affecting. She met him with a quivering
lip and moistened eyes, and, as she laid her cheek
against his breast, murmured in a sad, yet deeply
affectionate voice—

“My father !’’

‘My own dear child !” quickly replied Claire, with
emotion.

And then both stood for some time silent. Lead-
ing her to a seat, Claire said tenderly—

‘“T have always loved you truly, and now you
are dearer to me than ever.”

‘“‘My more than father,”’ was her simple response.

‘My own dear child!” said Mr. Claire, kissing
her fondly. ‘We have ever blessed the day on
which you came to us from God.”

Words would only have mocked their feelings,
and so but few words passed between them, yet how
full of thoughts crowding upon thoughts were their
minds—how over-excited their hearts with new emo-
tions of love.

After the younger members of the family had re-
tired on that evening, Mr. and Mrs. Claire and
Fanny were alone together. All three were in a
calmer state of mind. Fanny listened with deep at-