“She is a beautiful child,” said Edward.

“Very,” was the hearty response.  “Very—­and so sweet-tempered and winning in her ways.  Do you know, I am already attached to her.  And little Edie is so delighted.  They have played all the morning like kittens; and a little while ago lay down, just as you see them—­tired out, I suppose—­and fell off to sleep.  It must have been hard for the mother to part with that child—­hard, very hard.”

And Mrs. Claire sighed.

“You will scarcely be willing to give her up, if she remains here long,” said Edward.

“I don’t know how I should feel to part from her, even now.  Oh, isn’t it sad to think that she has no living soul to love or care for her in the world.”

“Mr. Jasper is her guardian, you know.”

“Yes; and such a guardian!”

“I should not like to have my child dependent on his tender mercies, certainly.  But he will have little to do with her beyond paying the bills for her maintenance.  He will place her in some family to board; and her present comfort and future well-being will depend very much upon the character of the persons who have charge of her.”

Edith sighed.

“I wish,” said she, after a pause, “that we were able to take her.  But we are not.”

And she sighed again.

“Mr. Jasper will pay six dollars a week to any one who will take the entire care of her until she is twelve years of age.”

“Will he?” A sudden light had gleamed over the face of Mrs. Claire.

“Yes; he said so this morning.”

“Then, why may not we take her?  I am willing,” was Edith’s quick suggestion.

“It is a great care and responsibility,” said Edward.

“I shall not feel it so.  When the heart prompts, duty becomes a pleasure.  O yes, dear, let us take the child by all means.”

“Can we make room for her?”

“Why not?  Her little bed, in a corner of our chamber, will in noway incommode us; and through the day she will be a companion for Edie.  If you could only have seen how sweetly they played together!  Edie has not been half the trouble to-day that she usually is.”

“It will rest altogether with you, Edith,” said Claire, seriously.  “In fact, Mr. Jasper proposed that we should take Fanny.  I did not give him much encouragement, however.”

“Have you any objection, dear?” asked Edith.

“None.  The sum to be paid weekly will more than cover the additional cost of housekeeping.  If you are prepared for the extra duties that must come, I have nothing to urge against the arrangement.”

“If extra duties are involved, I will perform them as a labour of love.  Without the sum to be paid for the child’s maintenance, I would have been ready to take her in and let her share our home.  She is now in the special guardianship of the Father of the fatherless, and he will provide for her, no matter who become the almoners of his bounty.  This is my faith, Edward, and in this faith I would have freely acted even without the provision that has been made.”