The dear child
shall remain where she is."
"But, after she is twelve, Edward? What then? Oh, I can never part
with her," said Mrs. Claire, now weeping freely.
"Two years will pass ere that time. Jasper may have other purposes in
view when our present contract expires."
"You will see him in the morning?"
"O yes. I must understand all about this matter. What can it mean?
'Needful care to her education!' A mere hypocritical pretence. What
does he care for her, or her education? What, in fact, does he know of
her? Nothing at all. Has he ever called to see her? Has he ever made
the first inquiry after her? No. There is something wrong, without
doubt. This movement bodes no good to our dear child. But she has one
friend who will stand between her and harm--who will protect her, if
need be, at the risk of his own life."
Claire, as his words indicate, had suffered himself to become much
excited. Seeing this, his wife recovered, to some extent, her own
self-possession, and spoke to him soothingly.
"We will wait and see what it means," said she. "Mr. Jasper cannot
force her away from us now, if he would."
"After seeing him to-morrow, you can understand better what we are to
expect. This note may have been written from some momentary feeling. I
cannot think that he has a settled purpose to take the child from us.
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