taken back to
the house, where I stayed all day and all night with the lady. This
morning we got into the cars, and came back to the city. The lady took
me to a large house in Walnut street, where I stayed until after dark,
and then she brought me home in a carriage."

Such was the child's story; and greatly puzzled were Claire and his
wife to comprehend its meaning. Their joy at her return was intense.
She seemed almost as if restored to them from the dead. But, for what
purpose had she been carried off; and who were the parties engaged in
the act? These were questions of the deepest moment; yet difficult,
if not impossible of solution--at least in the present. That Jasper's
absence from the city was in some way connected with this business,
Claire felt certain, the more he reflected thereon. But, that Fanny
should be returned to him so speedily, if Jasper had been concerned
in her temporary abduction, was something that he could not clearly
understand. And it was a long time ere the mystery was entirely
unravelled.

CHAPTER XIV.

From that time Claire and his wife heard no more from Jasper, who
regularly paid the sums quarterly demanded for Fanny's maintenance.
This demand was not now made in person by Claire. He sent a written
order, which the guardian never failed to honour on the first
presentation.

Mr. Melleville, according to promise, called upon the firm of Edgar
& Co., in order to speak a good word for Edward; but learned, not a
little to his surprise, that no vacancy was anticipated in the house.

"Mr. Jasper," said he, "told one of my young men that a clerk had
left, or was about leaving you."

"It's a mistake," was the positive answer. "He may have meant some
other firm."

"All a wicked deception on the part of Jasper," said Melleville to
himself, as he left the store. "A lie told with sinister purpose. How
given over to all baseness is the man!"

Claire was no little disappointed when this was told him; but his
answer showed how he was gaining in just views of life; and how he
could lean on right principles and find in them a firm support.

"I would rather," said he, "be the deceived than the deceiver. The one
most wronged in this is Leonard Jasper. Ah! is he not preparing for
himself a sad future? As for me, I am more and more satisfied, every
day, that all events, even to the most minute, are in the direction or
permission of Providence; and that out of the very occurrences we deem