poor is even he who counts his millions! With them, how
rich is the humble toiler, who, receiving day by day his daily bread,
looks up and is thankful!

CHAPTER XVII.

A few weeks subsequent to the occurrences mentioned in the last
chapter, Leonard Jasper received a call from Mr. Melleville, in
whose service Claire still remained. The greeting of the two men was
distant, yet courteous. A few words on current topics passed between
them, after which Mr. Melleville said--

"I have called to ask you a question or two in regard to a child of
the late Mr. Elder, to whom you are guardian."

The blood came instantly to the face of Jasper, who was not prepared
for this; and in spite of his struggle to seem self-possessed, his
eyes sank under those of his visitor. In a few moments, he recovered
himself, and replied--

"The child, you mean, who is boarding with Edward Claire?"

"The same." The eyes of Melleville were fixed on those of Jasper so
steadily, that the latter wavered, and, finally, again dropped to the
floor.

"Well, I am ready to hear any thing that you have to say." Jasper had
thrown off, once more, the vague sense of coming evil that made him
cower under the steady gaze of Melleville.

"I learn," said the latter, "from Mr. Claire, that you refuse to pay
any further sums for her maintenance. Is the property left by her
father, to which common report has affixed considerable value,
exhausted, or"--

"I have refused to pay _him_ any further sums," said Jasper, in a
quick, excited voice, interrupting Mr. Melleville. "Our contract,
regularly entered into, has expired by limitation. He was to have the
care of her only until she reached her twelfth year. Of this fact he
is clearly advised, and I wonder at his pertinacity in endeavouring to
retain the child, when he knows that I, her guardian, wish to have her
in my own possession."

"He has had her ever since she was a little child; and both he and his
wife are now strongly attached to her. In fact, she regards them as
her parents; and their affection for her is not exceeded by
their affection for their own children. To separate them would be
exceedingly painful to all parties. As for the child, it would make
her very unhappy."

"I can't help that, Mr. Melleville." Jasper spoke coldly.

"Under all the circumstances," said Mr. Melleville, after a pause,
speaking slowly, and with considerable emphasis in his words, "it is
my opinion that you had bett