I said that there would, in all probability." "Well ?" "Then she gave me to understand, that if no one took the child, she might be induced to board her for a while, until other arrangements were made." "Did you give her to understand that this was practicable ?" "No, sir." "Why not?
She will have to be boarded, you know." "I neither liked the woman's face, manner, nor appearance." "Why not ?" "Oh, she was a vulgar, coarse, hard-looking creature to my eyes." "Kind hearts often lie concealed under unpromising externals." "True; but they lie not concealed under that exterior, be well assured, Mr.Jasper.No, no.

The child who has met with so sad a loss as that of a mother, needs the tenderest guardianship.

At best, the case is hard enough." Jasper did not respond to this humane sentiment, for there was no pity in him.

The waves of feeling, stirred so suddenly a few hours before, had all subsided, and the surface of his heart bore no ripple of emotion.

He thought not of the child as an object claiming his regard, but as a trouble and a hinderance thrown in his way, to be disposed of as summarily as possible.
"I'm obliged to you, Edward, for the trouble you have taken in my stead," he remarked, after a slight pause.