He could hardly explain, he said, why he was so deeply interested in the child, except it were that her mother had died on his premises and she seemed to be thrown upon his care.
'I cannot see her go to the poor-house,' he continued, with a trembling in his voice which made Mrs.Crawford wonder a little, as she had never credited him with much sympathy for anything outside his own family.

'I cannot see her go to the poor-house, and I cannot well take her into my family, as we have three children of our own.

But I have made up my mind to care for her, and I have come to ask if, for a compensation, you will keep her here ?' 'Yes, grandma--say yes!' Harold cried; while Jerry, with her mouth full of cookie, repeated, 'ay 'ess.' 'You see, the children plead for me,' Mr.Tracy said, with a smile at the little girl, whose hand just then swept back the hair from her eyes, which looked steadily at him as he went on: 'While she is young--say, until she is ten years old--I will pay you three dollars a week, and after that more, if necessary.

I know you will be kind to her, and that she will be happy here and well brought up.

Is it a bargain ?' Mrs.Crawford had never seen him so interested in anything and felt somewhat surprised and puzzled, but she expressed her willingness to take the child and do what she could for her.
'It will be a good thing for Harold,' she said, 'as he is in danger of growing selfish here alone with me.' And so Jerry's future was settled, and counting out twelve dollars, Frank handed them to Mrs.Crawford, saying: 'I will pay you for four weeks in advance, as you may need the money, and--and--perhaps--' His face grew very red as he stammered on, 'perhaps it may be as well not to tell how much I pay you.