Yes, he answered himself--even the cost of giving her to a better man.

The thing was sure to come, he thought--nor thought without a keen pang, scarcely eased by the dignity of the self-denial that would yield her with a smile.

But such a crisis was far away, and there was no necessity for now contemplating it.

Indeed, there was no _certainty_ it would ever arrive; it was only a possibility.

The child was not beautiful, although to him she was lovely, and, being also penniless, was therefore not likely to attract attention; while, if her being unfolded under the genial influences he was doing his best to make powerful upon her, if she grew aware that by them her life was enlarging and being tenfold enriched, it was possible she might not be ready to fall in love, and leave Thornwick.