ward," said Edith. "Oh! it will be such a relief to
have a certainty; to know even that she is in his hands."

Without further remark, Claire left his house and hurried off to the
store of Jasper. The merchant was not there. From one of his clerks he
learned his present residence, which happened not to be far distant.
Thither he went, and, on asking to see him, was told by the servant
that he was not at home. He then inquired for Mrs. Jasper, who, on
being summoned, met him in one of the parlours. The manner of Claire
was very much agitated, and he said, with an abruptness that evidently
disconcerted the lady--

"Good evening, madam! My name is Claire. You remember me, of course?"

The lady bowed coldly, and with a frown on her brow.

"Is little Fanny Elder here?" was asked, and with even greater
abruptness.

"Fanny Elder? No! Why do you ask that question?"

There was something so positive in the denial of Mrs. Jasper, that
Claire felt her words as truth.

"Not here?" said he, catching his breath in a gasping manner. "Not
here?"

"I said that she was not here," was the reply.

"Oh, where then is she, madam?" exclaimed the young man, evincing
great distress.

"How should I know? Is she not in your possession? What is the meaning
of this, Mr. Claire?"

The lady spoke sternly, and with the air of one both offended and
irritated.

"Somebody enticed her away, on her return from school this afternoon,"
said Claire. "Mr. Jasper said that he would have her; and my first and
natural conclusion was that he had executed his threat. Oh, ma'am, if
this be so, tell me, that my anxiety for the child's safety may have
rest. As it is, I am in the most painful uncertainty. If she is here,
I will feel, at least"--

"Have I not told you that she is not here, and that I know nothing of
her," said Mrs. Jasper, angrily, interrupting the young man. "This is
insolent."

"How soon do you expect Mr. Jasper home?" inquired Claire.

"Not for several days," replied Mrs. Jasper.

"Days! Is he not in the city?"

"No, sir. He left town yesterday."

Claire struck his hands together in disappointment and grief. This
confirmed to him the lady's assertion that she knew nothing of Fanny.
In that assertion she had uttered the truth.

Sadly disappointed, and in far deeper distress of mind than when he
entered the house, Edward Claire retired. If Mr. Jasper left the city
on the day previous, and his wife had, as he could not help beli