inquire into the result of his researches, for the captain was in
that mood of suppressed grief and vehement haste in which irrelevant
inquiry is perfectly unbearable.

It was not till late in the evening that Richard told his wife of his
want of success in his investigations. He had found witnesses of the
destruction of the ship, but he did not give them full credit. "The
fellows say the ship drove on the rock, and that they saw her boats
go down with every soul on board, and that they would not lie to an
officer of her Grace. Heaven pardon me if I do them injustice in
believing they would lie to him sooner than to any one else. They
are rogues enough to take good care that no poor wretch should
survive even if he did chance to come to land."

"Then if there be no one to claim her, we may bring up as our own the
sweet babe whom Heaven hath sent us."

"Not so fast, dame. Thou wert wont to be more discreet. I said not
so, but for the nonce, till I can come by the rights of that scroll,
there's no need to make a coil. Let no one know of it, or of the
trinket--Thou hast them safe?"

"Laid up with the Indian gold chain, thy wedding gift, dear sir."

"'Tis well. My mother!--ah me," he added, catching himself up;
"little like is she to ask questions, poor soul."

Then Susan diffidently told of Master Heatherthwayte's earnest wish
to christen the child, and, what certainly biased her a good deal,
the suggestion that this would secure her to their own religion.