to its maintenance."

"No friend. Poor child! and of so tender an age!"

"She is young, certainly, to be left alone in the world."

Jasper uttered these words, but felt nothing of the sad meaning they
involved.

"What disposition will you make of her?" asked Claire.

"I've had no time to think of that yet. Other matters are first to be
regarded. So let me come to the point. Mrs. Elder is dead; and, as far
as I could see, there is no living soul, beyond a frightened servant,
to do any thing. Whether she will have the presence of mind to call in
the neighbours, is more than I can say. I left in the bewilderment of
the moment; and now remember me that something is to be done for the
dead. Will you go to the house, and see what is needed? In the next
block is an undertaker; you had better call, on your way, and ask him
to go with you. All arrangements necessary for the funeral can be left
in his hands. Just take this whole matter off of me, Edward, and I
will be greatly obliged to you. I have a good many things on my mind,
that must receive close attention."

The young man offered no objection, although the service was far from
being agreeable. On his return, after the absence of an hour, Jasper
had, of course, many inquiries to make. Claire appeared serious. The
fact was, he had seen enough to touch his feelings deeply. The grief
of the orphaned child, as he was a witness thereto, had brought tears
upon his cheeks, in spite of every manly effort to restrain them. Her