Without
these, how poor is even he who counts his millions! With them, how
rich is the humble toiler, who, receiving day by day his daily bread,
looks up and is thankful!
CHAPTER XVII.
A few weeks subsequent to the occurrences mentioned in the last
chapter, Leonard Jasper received a call from Mr. Melleville, in
whose service Claire still remained. The greeting of the two men was
distant, yet courteous. A few words on current topics passed between
them, after which Mr. Melleville said--
"I have called to ask you a question or two in regard to a child of
the late Mr. Elder, to whom you are guardian."
The blood came instantly to the face of Jasper, who was not prepared
for this; and in spite of his struggle to seem self-possessed, his
eyes sank under those of his visitor. In a few moments, he recovered
himself, and replied--
"The child, you mean, who is boarding with Edward Claire?"
"The same." The eyes of Melleville were fixed on those of Jasper so
steadily, that the latter wavered, and, finally, again dropped to the
floor.
"Well, I am ready to hear any thing that you have to say." Jasper had
thrown off, once more, the vague sense of coming evil that made him
cower under the steady gaze of Melleville.
"I learn," said the latter, "from Mr. Claire, that you refuse to pay
any further sums for her maintenance.
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