"Persuaded him! no, nor even undertaken to do so! I never saw him
before to-day, yet I would venture to say, from what I have now seen
of him, that he never was persuaded by any agent except his own
passions and interests, to any act whatever. No, I have endeavored
to show him that we have law as well as justice on our side, and
even now I am afraid I shall have to take the case before the
Orphans' Court before I can convince him. He purposes removing Clara
to-morrow morning. I will endeavor to see the Judge of the Orphans'
Court to-night, take out a habeas corpus, ordering Le Noir to bring
his ward into court, and serve it on him as he passes through
Staunton on his way home."
"But is there no way of preventing him from taking Clara away from
the house to-morrow morning."
"No good way. No, madam, it is best that all things should be done
decently and in order. I advise you, as I shall also advise my young
friends, Traverse and Clara, not to injure their own cause by unwise
impatience or opposition. We should go before the Orphans' Court
with the very best aspect."
"Come, then, and talk to Clara. She has the most painful antipathy
to the man who claims the custody of her person, as well as the most
distressing reluctance to leaving her dear home and friends; and all
this, in addition to her recent heavy affliction, almost overwhelms
the poor child," said Mrs.
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