Leonard Jasper would have been less than human had he borne such an assault upon his feelings without emotion; less than human had his heart instantly and spontaneously rejected the dying mother's wildly eloquent appeal.

He was bewildered, startled, even deeply moved.
The moment he could, with propriety and a decent regard for appearances, get away from the house where he had witnessed so painful a scene, he returned to his place of business in a sobered, thoughtful state of mind.

He had not anticipated so direct a guardianship of Ruben Elder's child as it was evident would now devolve upon him, in consequence of the mother's death.

Here was to be trouble for him--this was his feeling so soon as there was a little time for reaction--and trouble without profit.

He would have to take upon himself the direct charge of the little girl, and duly provide for her maintenance and education.
"If there is property enough for this, well and good," he muttered to himself; he had not yet become acquainted with the real state of affairs.