The calm, kind, insinuating manner of Jasper disarmed Claire, and made him wish that he could meet the desire of his old employer, without the painful breach in his home circle which must be the consequence. With his eyes cast upon the floor, he sat silently communing with his own thoughts for some time. The announcement of a vacancy in the house of Edgar & Co., and the offer to try and get the situation for him, had flattered his mind considerably. If he did not make some compromise in the present case, he could count nothing on the influence of Jasper. But, how could he compromise? There was but one way--to give up Fanny--and that he was not prepared to do. Seeing that the young man remained silent, Jasper said-- "Edward, I will make you this very liberal offer. Understand, now, that I am deeply in earnest--that the possession of Fanny is a thing of great moment to me; and that to gain this desired object, I am prepared to go very far. If you will meet me in a spirit of compromise, I will become as I was some years ago, your friend; and I have the ability to aid any one materially. As just said, I will make you this liberal offer:--Let me have the child now, and for the next two years I will pay you the same that you have been receiving for her maintenance." Claire lifted his head quickly. There was already a flush on his cheeks and a sharp light in his eyes. "Stay--one moment," interrupted Jasper, who saw by the motion of his lips that he was about replying. "I will pay you the whole sum, six hundred dollars, in advance, and, in addition thereto, pledge myself to procure for you, within three mouths, a situation worth a thousand dollars per annum, at least." This was too broad an attempt to buy over the young man, and it failed. Starting to his feet, with a feeling of indignation in his heart so strong that he could not repress it, he answered, with knit brows and eyes fixed sternly and steadily on the merchant--"Leonard Jasper! I thought you knew me better! I am not to be bought with your money." As sudden was the change that passed over the merchant. He, too, sprang to his feet, and conscious that his offer of bribery, which he had humiliated himself to make, had failed, with clenched hand and set teeth, he fairly hissed out-- "You'll rue this day and hour, Edward Claire--rue it even to the moment of death! I will never forget nor forgive the wrong and insult. Don't think to escape me--don't think to foil me. The child is mine by right, and I will have her, come what will."