I have a good many things on my mind,
that must receive close attention."
The young man offered no objection, although the service was far from
being agreeable. On his return, after the absence of an hour, Jasper
had, of course, many inquiries to make. Claire appeared serious. The
fact was, he had seen enough to touch his feelings deeply. The grief
of the orphaned child, as he was a witness thereto, had brought tears
upon his cheeks, in spite of every manly effort to restrain them. Her
extreme beauty struck him at the first glance, even obscured as it was
under a vail of sorrow and weeping.
"There were several persons in, you say?" remarked Jasper, after
Claire had related a number of particulars.
"Yes, three or four."
"Ladies, of course?"
"Yes."
"Did any of them propose to take the child home with them?"
"Not directly. One woman asked me a number of questions about the
little girl."
"Of what nature?"
"As to whether there were any relatives or particular friends who
would take charge of her?"
"And you told her there were none?"
"Yes; none of whom I had any knowledge."
"Well? What had she to say to that?"
"She wanted to know if there would be any thing for the child's
support. I said that there would, in all probability."
"Well?"
"Then she gave me to understand, that if no one took the child, she
might be induced to board her for a while, until other arrangements
were made.
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