But I have exacted a very solemn promise from him as to his future demeanour towards your nephew, if you do kindly interpose; and I am sure he will keep it.' 'You are always responsible and trustworthy, Mr.Crisparkle.

Do you really feel sure that you can answer for him so confidently ?' 'I do.' The perplexed and perplexing look vanished.
'Then you relieve my mind of a great dread, and a heavy weight,' said Jasper; 'I will do it.' Mr.Crisparkle, delighted by the swiftness and completeness of his success, acknowledged it in the handsomest terms.
'I will do it,' repeated Jasper, 'for the comfort of having your guarantee against my vague and unfounded fears.

You will laugh--but do you keep a Diary ?' 'A line for a day; not more.' 'A line for a day would be quite as much as my uneventful life would need, Heaven knows,' said Jasper, taking a book from a desk, 'but that my Diary is, in fact, a Diary of Ned's life too.

You will laugh at this entry; you will guess when it was made: '"Past midnight .-- After what I have just now seen, I have a morbid dread upon me of some horrible consequences resulting to my dear boy, that I cannot reason with or in any way contend against.

All my efforts are vain.