The careless way in which he spoke of his parents showed a want of heart; and although his uncle was ignorant how much the boy made himself disliked in the household, he was conscious, himself, of a certain antipathy for him, which led him to see as little of him as possible.
The two years, for which the sergeant had placed his grandchild with Mrs.Walsham, came to an end.

That he did not intend to continue the arrangement, she judged from something he said on the occasion of his last visit, two months before the time was up, but he gave no hint as to what he intended to do with her.
In those weeks Mrs.Walsham frequently thought the matter over.

That the sergeant had plans for the child she could hardly doubt.

The child herself had told her that she knew of no other relations than her grandfather, and yet he could hardly intend to take her about with him, after placing her for two years in a comfortable home.

She was but seven years old now--far too young to go out into a place as servant girl in a farm house.