Part 10 (1/2)
”Very well. I did just what she would have done under the circ.u.mstances.”
”You have only one child, I believe?” said Jasper, after a pause of some moments.
”That is all.”
”Only three in family?”
”Only three.”
”How would you like to increase it? Suppose you keep this child of Elder's, now she is with you. I have been looking a little into the affairs of the estate, and find that there are two houses, uninc.u.mbered, that are rented each for two hundred and fifty dollars a year. Of course, you will receive a reasonable sum for taking care of the child. What do you say to it? As executor, I will pay you five dollars a week for boarding and clothing her until she is twelve years of age. After that, a new arrangement can be made.”
”I can't give an answer until I consult my wife,” said Claire, in reply to so unexpected a proposition.
”Urge her to accept the offer, Edward. Just think what it will add to your income. I'm sure it won't cost you one-half the sum, weekly, that I have specified, to find the child in every thing.”
”Perhaps not. But all will depend on my wife. We are living, now, in two rooms, and keep no domestic. An addition of one to our family might so increase her care and labour as to make a servant necessary.
Then we should have to have an additional room; the rent of which and the wages and board of the servant would amount to nearly as much as we would receive from you on account of the child.”
”Yes, I see that,” returned Jasper. And he mused for some moments. He was particularly anxious that Claire should take the orphan, for then all the trouble of looking after and caring for her would be taken from him, and that would be a good deal gained.
”I'll tell you what, Edward,” he added. ”If you will take her, I will call the sum six dollars a week--or three hundred a year. That will make the matter perfectly easy. If your wife does not seem at first inclined, talk to her seriously. This addition to your income will be a great help. To show her that I am perfectly in earnest, and that you can depend on receiving the sum specified, I will draw up a little agreement, which, if all parties are satisfied, can be signed at once.”
Claire promised to talk the matter over with his wife at dinner-time.
The morning did not pa.s.s without varied a.s.saults upon the young man's recent good resolutions. Several times he had customers in from whom it would have been easy to get more than a fair profit, but he steadily adhered to what he believed to be right, notwithstanding Jasper once or twice expressed dissatisfaction at his not having made better sales, and particularly at his failing to sell a piece of cloth, because he would not pledge his word as to its colour and quality--neither of which were good.
The proposition of Jasper for him to make, in his family, a place for the orphan, caused Claire to postpone the announcement of his intention to leave his service, until after he had seen and conferred with his wife.
At the usual dinner-hour, Claire returned home. His mind had become by this time somewhat disturbed. The long-cherished love of money, subdued for a brief season, was becoming active again. Here were six dollars to be added, weekly, to his income, provided his wife approved the arrangement,--and it was to come through Jasper. The more he thought of this increase, the more his natural cupidity was stirred, and the less willing he felt to give up the proposed one hundred dollars in his salary. If he persisted in leaving Jasper, there would, in all probability, be a breach between them, and this would, he felt certain, prevent an arrangement that he liked better and better the more he thought about it. He was in this state of mind when he arrived at home.
On pus.h.i.+ng open the door of their sitting-room, the attention of Claire was arrested by the animated expression of his wife's face. She raised her finger to enjoin silence. Tripping lightly to his side, she drew her arm within his, and whispered--
”Come into the chamber, dear--tread softly--there, isn't that sweet?--isn't it lovely?”
The sight was lovely indeed. A pillow had been thrown on the floor, and upon this lay sleeping, arm in arm, the two children. Pressed close together were their rosy checks; and the sunny curls of f.a.n.n.y Elder were mixed, like gleams of suns.h.i.+ne, amid the darker ringlets that covered profusely the head of little Edith.
”Did you ever see any thing so beautiful?” said the delighted mother.
”What a picture it would make!” remarked Edward, who was charmed with the sight.
”Oh, lovely! How I would like just such a picture!
”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.”