There was a heartless smile on his face, as if he enjoyed the act of refusal." Claire made no further remark.

For a time he groped about, mentally, like one in darkness and lost.

It appeared as if there was no escape; as if the evil which had long dogged his steps was upon him.

But in a short time, a ray of light shone in here and there, paths that might be walked in safely were dimly perceived--escape seemed possible.
Still, he was deeply depressed and sorely troubled.
Edith received the intelligence in a calmer spirit than her husband had expected.
"The way will be made plain before us," said she.

"It is plainer now than it was last night--much plainer." "How can you say that, Edith ?" "Mr.Jasper has refused to pay any thing more to us for Fanny's support." "Yes." "But in the refusal said nothing about our giving her up to him." "Well ?" "I gather from this, and the fact that he was aware of her being twelve years old, that he does not really want her now in his own family, but refuses to pay us for her board and education from a feeling of ill-will toward you.