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It occurred to hi woman was not particularly distressed Instead, her rather pretty face was full of eagerness and there was a certain lightness in her manner that puzzled him for the moment Her co Both were neatly dressed and both looked as though they were or had been bread-winners If they had a secret, it was now quite evident to this shrewd, quick thinker that it was not a dark one In truth, he was beginning to feel that so mischievous lurked in the attitude of the two visitors

"I want to ask how a person has to proceed to adopt a baby," was the blunt and surprising remark that caetting angry

"Who wants to adopt it?" he asked shortly

"I do, of course," she answered, so readily that the lawyer stared He scanned her from head to foot, critically; her face reddened perceptibly It surprised hi; she was positively attractive!

"Are you a married wolance at her companion "This is my sister," she added

"I see Where is your husband?"

"He is at ho there now"

"I thought you said you were a governess?"

"That doesn't preventa home, does it?" she explained easily "I'm not a nurse, you know"

"This isn't your child, then?" he asked impatiently

"I don't knohose child it is" There was a new softness in her voice that made him look hard at her while she passed a hand tenderly over the sleeping babe "She co's home, sir"

"You cannot adopt a child unless supported by some authority," he said "How does she happen to be in your possession; and what papers have you fro's ho that you should have her? There is a lot of red tape about such e it for me, Mr Bansemer," she said, plaintively "They say you never fail at anything you undertake" He was not sure there was a compliment in her remark, so he treated it with indifference

"I'm afraid I can't help you" The tone was final

"Can't you tell me how I'll have to proceed? I must adopt the child, sir, one way or another" Her manner was more subdued and there was a touch of supplication in her voice