r!
she, did not believe it. Indeed, Jasper took no pains to convince her
of the relationship or win her attachment. He was not unkindly rough:
he seemed wholly indifferent; probably he was so. For the ruling vice
of the man was in his egotism. It was not so much that he had bad
principles and bad feelings, as that he had no principles and no
feelings at all, except as they began, continued, and ended in that
system of centralization which not more paralyzes healthful action in a
State than it does in the individual man. Self-indulgence with him was
absolute. He was not without power of keen calculation, not without
much cunning. He could conceive a project for some gain far off in the
future, and concoct, for its realization, schemes subtly woven, astutely
guarded. But he could not secure their success by any long-sustained
sacrifices of the caprice of one hour or the indolence of the next.
If it had been a great object to him for life to win Sophy's filial
affection, he would not have bored himself for five minutes each day
to gain that object. Besides, he had just enough of shame to render
him uneasy at the sight of the child he had deliberately sold. So after
chucking her under the chin, and telling her to be a good girl and be
grateful for all that Mrs. Crane had done for her and meant still to do,
he consigned her almost solely to that lady's care.

When Rugge arrived, and Sophy was informed of her intended destination,
she broke silence,--her colour went and came quickly,--she declared,
folding her arms upon her breast, that she would never act if separated
from her grandfather. Mrs. Crane, struck by her manner, suggested to
Rugge that it might be as well, now that she was legally secured to the
manager, to humour her wish and re-engage Waife. Whatever the tale with
which, in order to obtain Sophy from the Mayor, she had turned that
worthy magistrate's mind against the Comedian, she had not gratified
Mr. Rugge by a similar confidence to him. To him she said nothing which
might operate against renewing engagements with Waife, if he were so
disposed. But Rugge had no faith in a child's firmness, and he had a
strong spite against Waife, so he obstinately refused. He insisted,
however, as a peremptory condition of the bargain, that Mr. Losely and
Mrs. Crane should accompany him to the town to which he had transferred
his troupe, both in order by their presence to confirm his authority
over Sophy, and to sanction his c