What Will He Do With It? Book XI

"I take this moment," said Darrell, when left alone with Waife -- (ah, reader, let us keep to that familiar name to the last! ) -- "I take this moment," said Darrell, "the first moment in which you can feel thoroughly assured that no prejudice against yourself clouds my judgment in reference to her whom you believe to be your grandchild, to commence, and I trust to conclude forever, the subject which twice brought you within these walls. On the night of your recent arrival here, you gave this copy of a French woman's declaration, to the effect that two infants had been placed out with her to nurse; that one of them was my poor daughter's infant, who was about to be taken away from her; that the other was confided to her by its parent, a French lady, whom she speaks of as a very liberal and distinguished person, but whose name is not stated in the paper."

WAIFE. -- "The confession describes that lady as an artiste; distinguished artiste is the expression-viz., a professional person -- a painter -- an actress -- a singer -- or -- "