I can't let this child go." Then came the man's voice, hoarse with excitement: "But, Cynthia, you must; you are mad.

Think what this means.

Why, if people know what you have done, kept this child, while all this search has been going on, and made no effort to find out who she was--" "I did ask her, and she would not tell me," Cynthia said, miserably.
"Good Lord! what of that?
That is nothing but a subterfuge.

You must have seen in the papers--" "I have not looked at a paper since she came." "Of course you have not.

You were afraid to.