Dear, dear child! How shall we ever bear the parting!" All day long Claire was in momentary dread of a visit or a communication from Jasper.

But none came.

A like anxiety had been suffered by his wife, and it showed itself in the pallor of her cheeks, and the heavy, almost tearful, drooping of her eyelids.
The next day and the next passed, and yet nothing was heard from the guardian.

Now, the true guardians of the child began to breathe more freely.

A week elapsed, and all remained as before.