This morning he called to see Mrs.Elder, and found her in a very low state.

In fact, she died while he was there." "Edward! Died ?" "Yes, died; and her only child, a sweet little girl, not five years old, is now a friendless orphan." "How very sad!" "Sad enough, Edith, sad enough.

Mr.Jasper, who has no taste for scenes of distress, wished me to look after the funeral arrangements; so I went to the house, and attended to matters as well as I could.

Ah me! It has cast a gloom over my feelings that I find it hard to cast off." "Did you see the child ?" inquired Mrs.Claire, the mother's impulse giving direction to her thoughts.
"Yes; and a lovely child it is.

Poor thing!" "There are near relatives, I presume ?" "None; at least, so Jasper says." "What is to become of the child ?" "Dear above knows! As for her legal guardian, she has nothing to hope from his humanity.