No change of marked importance occurred in the family of Claire during the next two years, to the close of which period both he and his wife looked with increasing earnestness of mind.  Fanny had grown rapidly during this time, and was now tall for her age—­and still very beautiful.  In character she was every thing the fondest parents could desire.

At last came the child’s twelfth birthday.  Neither Clare nor his wife referred to the fact; though it was present to both their minds—­present like an evil guest.  Must they now give her up?  Their hearts shrank and trembled at the bare idea.  How plainly each read in the other’s face the trouble which only the lips concealed!

Never had Fanny looked so lovely in the eyes of Claire as she did on that morning, when she bounded to his side and claimed a parting kiss, ere he left for his daily round of business.  Could he give her up?  The thought choked in their utterance the words of love that were on his lips, and he turned from her and left the house.

As Claire, on his way to Mr. Melleville’s store, came into the more business portions of the city, his thoughts on the child who was soon to be resigned, according to the tenor of his contract with her guardian, he was suddenly startled by seeing Jasper a short distance ahead, approaching from the direction in which he was going.  Happening, at the moment, to be near a cross street, he turned off suddenly, in obedience to an instinct rather than a purpose, and avoided a meeting by going out of his way.

“How vain,” he sighed to himself, as the throbbing of his heart grew less heavy and his thoughts ran clear.  “I cannot so avoid this evil.  It will most surely find me out.  Dear, dear child!  How shall we ever bear the parting!”

All day long Claire was in momentary dread of a visit or a communication from Jasper.  But none came.  A like anxiety had been suffered by his wife, and it showed itself in the pallor of her cheeks, and the heavy, almost tearful, drooping of her eyelids.

The next day and the next passed, and yet nothing was heard from the guardian.  Now, the true guardians of the child began to breathe more freely.  A week elapsed, and all remained as before.  Another week was added; another and another.  A month had gone by.  And yet the days of a succeeding month came and went, the child still remaining in her old home.

Up to this time but brief allusions had been made by either Claire or his wife to the subject first in their thoughts.  They avoided it, because each felt that the other would confirm, rather than allay, fears already too well defined.

“It is strange,” said Claire, as he sat alone with his wife one evening, some three months subsequent to the twelfth birthday of Fanny, “that we have heard nothing yet from Mr. Jasper.”

Edith looked up quickly, and with a glance of inquiry, into his face; but made no answer.

“I’ve turned it over in my mind a great deal,” resumed Claire, thoughtfully; “but with little or no satisfactory result.  Once I thought I would call on him”—­