Could he be sent for at once?
"Certainly, if you really wish it," answered Graham with some
hesitation, and then added frankly, "I have no sort of right
to offer an opinion, but will you not consider a moment before
fixing on such a fate for your child? She is surely very young
to be thrown amongst strangers, on such a doubtful career,
especially without you at hand to protect her."
"It is true I shall not be there," said the father with a
groan; "I had forgotten that. And I shall never see my little
one grown up. Ah! what is to become of her?"
"Has she no relations?" said Graham, "in England for instance----"
"In England!" cried M. Linders fiercely, "what could make you
fancy that?"
"I had understood that her mother was English----" began Graham.
"You are right, Monsieur; her mother was English, but she has
no English relations, or, if she has, they are nothing to her,
and she shall never know them. No," he said slowly, after a
pause, "I suppose there is only one thing to be done, and yet
I would almost rather she lay here dead by my side, that we
might be buried together in one grave; it would perhaps be
happier for her, poor little one! Ah, what a fate! but it must
be--you are right, I cannot send her out alone and friendless
into the world, she must go to her aunt.
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