"She is in my care. It is about her I wished to speak to you."
"In your care! But Mr. Southwode, that is very strange! How came my sister to leave her child in your care?"
"She honoured me, I believe, with so much trust as to believe I would be a faithful guardian," Mr. Digby said, with his extremely composed gravity.
"But was there nobody else?" said the lady, for a moment forgetting herself.
"Nobody else, whom Mrs. Carpenter thought as competent, or as trustworthy," the young man said with the gleam of a smile.
"Mr. Southwode, I cannot allow that for a moment," Mrs. Busby said with energy. "I am the proper person to take charge of my sister's child, and if you please I will assume the charge immediately. Where is she? She ought to be under my roof."
"It occurred to me, that if you were so inclined, your house would be the safest place for her; for the present at least."
"For the present and for always," said the lady decidedly. "Who else should take care of her? Where can I find her, Mr. Southwode?"
"Nowhere. I will bring her to you, if you will allow me."
"Do you know the girl? do you know much of her, I mean?"