When Edward Claire and his wife drew together on the evening of that
day, after the children were in bed, both were calmer than at their
previous interview on a subject that necessarily brought with it
strong excitement of feeling. Both had thought much and felt much, and
were now prepared to look calmly at the new relation affairs had so
suddenly assumed. At dinner-time, Edward had related the substance of
his interview with Jasper.
"What can he do?" asked Edith, referring now to the muttered threat of
that individual.
"I don't know that he can do any thing more than withhold the regular
sums heretofore paid for the support of Fanny. If he does that, I will
collect them legally."
"Can't he take her away by force? Won't the law compel us to give her
up?" asked Edith, in a troubled voice.
"Our contract gives us a right to her possession until she is twelve
years of age. In that, the law will undoubtedly sustain us."
"The law is very uncertain, Edward."
"But our contract is plainly worded, and, in this State, private
written contracts between parties to an agreement are good in law.
At best, however, we can only keep her two years longer; that is what
troubles me most."
"We must do our duty by her," said Edith, endeavouring to speak
calmly, "during that time; and wean our hearts from her as much as
possible, so that the giving of her up, when it has to be done, will
cause as little grief as possible. Poor child! It will be hard for her
to leave us, and go to her new home. That thought is beginning to pain
me most."
"And such a home! I have seen Mrs. Jasper frequently, and, if my
observation is correct, she is no true woman. Dress, it seemed to me,
was all she cared for; and there was a captiousness and ill-temper
about her, at times, that was, to say the least of it, very
unbecoming."
"And to her care we must resign this precious one," said Edith, with a
sigh. "Oh, how the thought pains me! Dear, dear child!"
"The time is yet distant," remarked Claire--"distant by nearly two
years. Let it be our duty to prepare her as fully for the new relation
as possible. Two years is a long time--many changes will take place,
and among them, it may be, a change in the purpose of Mr. Jasper.
We will hope for this, at least; yet wisely prepare for a different
result."
"As things now appear, I do not see what else remains for us to do.
Ah me! How like lightning from a summer sky has this flashed suddenly
over us. But, Edward, we must not, in the strong trial of our natural
feelings, permit ourselves to forget that dear Fanny is in the higher
guardianship of One who is infinitely wise and good. If she is to pass
from our care to that of Mr. Jasper and his family, it is through His
permission, and He will bring out of it good to all."
"I can see that in my understanding, Edith," replied her husband;
"but, it is hard to _feel_ that it is so."
"Very hard, Edward. Yet, it is something--a great deal--to have the
truth to lean upon, even though it seems to bend under our weight.
Oh! without this truth, it seems as if I would now fall to the
ground helpless. But, let us try and view this painful subject in its
brightest aspect. It is our duty to the child to keep her, if we can,
until she passes her twelfth year."
"Clearly," replied the husband.
"And you think we can do so?"
"We have two advantages--possession and a written contract
guaranteeing the possession."
"True."
"These on our side, I think we have little to fear from Jasper. The
great trial will come afterward."
To this conclusion, that is, to retain Fanny until her twelfth year,
if possible--they came, after once more carefully reviewing the whole
subject; and, resting here, they patiently awaited the result.
With what a new interest was the child regarded from this time! How
the hearts of Claire and his wife melted toward her on all occasions!
She seemed to grow, daily, more and more into their affections;
and, what to them appeared strange--it might only have been
imagination--manifested a more clinging tenderness, as if conscious of
the real truth.
Weeks elapsed and nothing further was heard from Jasper. Claire and
his wife began to hope that he would make no attempt to separate Fanny
from them; at least not until her twelfth year. Let us turn to him,
and see what he is doing, or proposing to do, in the case.
Two or three days subsequent to the time when Claire received the
notification from Jasper, just referred to, two men sat, in close
conference, in the office of an attorney noted for his legal
intelligence, but more noted for his entire want of principle. For
a good fee, he would undertake any case, and gain for his client, if
possible, no matter how great the wrong that was done. His name was
Grind. The two men here introduced, were this lawyer and Jasper.
"Do you really think," said the latter, "that, in the face of my
guardianship, he can retain possession of the child?"
"He has, you say, a copy of this contract?" Grind held a sheet of
paper in his hand.
"Yes. To think that I was such a fool as to bind myself in this way!
But I did not dream, for a moment, that things were going to turn up
as they have."
"It is a contract that binds you both," said the lawyer, "and I do not
see that you can go round it."
"I must go round it!" replied Jasper, warmly. "You know all the quirks
and windings of the law, and I look to you for help in this matter.
The possession of that child, is, to me, a thing of the first
importance."
"After two years she will come into your hands without trouble, Mr.
Jasper. Why not wait?"
"Wait! I will not hear the word. No! no! I must have her now."
"The law will not give her to you, Mr. Jasper," returned Grind, with
the utmost self-possession. "The contract is clearly expressed; and it
is binding."
"Is there no way to accomplish my end?" said Jasper, impatiently.
"There must be. I cannot be foiled in this matter. Even pride would
forbid this. But, there are stronger motives than pride at work now."
"Can you allege ill-treatment against the young man or his wife? Or
neglect of your ward's comfort? Have they failed to do their duty by
her in any respect?"
"I should not wonder; but, unfortunately, I can prove nothing."
"You might call for an investigation."
"And if every thing was proved right on their part?"
"The court would, most probably, return the child to their care. I
am ready to take all necessary steps for you; but, Mr. Jasper, I very
strongly incline to the opinion that the least noise you make in this
matter, the better. Couldn't you--for a consideration in money, for
instance--overcome the reluctance of Claire and his wife to part with
the child? Honey, you know, catches more flies than vinegar."
"Buy him off, you mean?"
"Yes."
"No--no! I hate him too cordially for that. He's a villain in
disguise; that's my opinion of him. A low, canting hypocrite. Buy him
off for money. Oh no!"
"Could he be bought?" asked the lawyer.
"Could he?" A flush of surprise lit up, for a moment, the face of
Jasper. "What a question for _you_ to ask. Hasn't every man his price?
Bought! Yes, I could buy him fifty times over."
"Then do so, and in the quietest manner. That is my advice."
"I'll steal the child!" exclaimed Jasper, rising up in his excitement,
and moving uneasily about the room.
Grind shook his head, as he replied--
"All folly. No man ever did a wise thing while he was in a passion.
You must permit yourself to cool down a great many degrees before you
can act judiciously in this matter."
"But to be thwarted by him!" An expression of the deepest disgust was
in the face of Jasper.
"All very annoying, of course," was the response of Grind. "Still,
where we can't make things bend exactly to our wishes, it is generally
the wisest policy to bend a little ourselves. We often, in this way,
gain a purchase that enables us to bring all over to our side."
It must not be supposed that Grind, in giving his client advice
that was to prevent an appeal to law, did so from any unselfish
friendliness. Nothing of the kind. He saw a great deal to gain,
beyond; and, in his advice, regarded his own interests quite as much
as he did those of Jasper. He was not, however, at this interview,
able to induce the merchant to attempt to settle the matter with
Claire by compromise. The most he could do was to get him to promise,
that, for the present, he would make no effort to get the person of
the child into his possession.
Jasper, when he left his lawyer, was less satisfied with him than
he had ever been. In previous cases, he had found Grind ready to
prosecute or defend, and to promise him the fullest success--though
success did not always come.
Several more consultations were held during the succeeding two or
three weeks, and, finally, Jasper was brought over fully to his
lawyer's way of thinking.