dainty limbs. No Scottish fisher clown was her father, I dare be
sworn. Her skin is as fair and fine as my Humfrey's, and moreover
she has always been in hands that knew how a babe should be tended.
Any woman can tell you that!"

"And what like is she in your woman's eyes? What complexion doth she
promise?"

"Her hair, what she has of it, is dark; her eyes--bless them--are of
a deep blue, or purple, such as most babes have till they take their
true tint. There is no guessing. Humfrey's eyes were once like to
be brown, now are they as blue as thine own."

"I understand all that," said Captain Talbot, smiling. "If she have
kindred, they will know her better by the sign manual on her tender
flesh than by her face."

"And who are they?"

"Who are they?" echoed the captain, rolling up the scroll in despair.
"Here, take it, Susan, and keep it safe from all eyes. Whatever it
may be, it may serve thereafter to prove her true name. And above
all, not a word or breath to Heatherthwayte, or any of thy gossips,
wear they coif or bands."

"Ah, sir! that you will mistrust the good man."

"I said not I mistrust any one; only that I will have no word of all
this go forth! Not one! Thou heedest me, wife?"