"
The clerk and the others left the cottage, and the intendant desired
Edward to bring Clara from the bedroom. She came out, accompanied by
and clinging indeed to Alice, for she was much alarmed.
"Come here, Clara," said the intendant, gently; "you do not know
perhaps that I am your sincere friend; and now that your father is
dead, I want you to come and live with my daughter, who will be
delighted to have you as a companion. Will you go with me, and I will
take care of you and be a father to you?"
"I do not like to leave Alice and Edith; they treat me so kindly, and
call me sister," replied Clara, sobbing.
"I am sure they do, and that you must be fond of them already, but
still it is your duty to come with me; and if your father could speak
to you now, he would tell you so. I will not force you away; but
remember, you are born a lady, and must be brought up and educated as
a lady, which can not be the case in this cottage, although they are
very kind to you, and very nice young people. You do not recollect me,
Clara; but you have often sat on my knee when you were a little girl
and when your father lived in Dorsetshire. You recollect the great
walnut-tree by the sitting-room window, which looked out in the
garden; don't you?"
"Yes," replied Clara, with surprise.
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