'
'Oh, Mr. Tracy,' Harold burst out, 'she is mine. She is to live with
grandma and me. You will not take her from me--say you will not?'
'_Vill not_,' Jerry reiterated, imitating as well as she could Harold's
last words.
For a moment Mr. Tracy looked fixedly at the boy, pleading for a burden
which would necessitate toil, and self-denial, and patience of no
ordinary kind and never had he despised himself more than he did then,
when, believing what he did believe, he said at last:
'I will talk with your grandmother, and see what arrangements we can
make. I rather think you have the best right to her. But she must stay
here to-night and until after the funeral, when she can go with you, if
you like.'
To this Harold did not object, and as Jerry seemed very happy and
content, he left her, while she was exploring the long drawing-room, and
examining curiously the different articles of furniture. As she did not
seem disposed to touch anything, she was allowed to go where she liked,
although Mrs. Frank remonstrated against her roaming all over the house
as if she belonged there, and suggested again that she be sent to the
kitchen. But Frank said 'no,' decidedly, and Jerry was left to herself,
except as the nurse-girl and Charles looked after her a little.
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