said, with a certain stately humility, as he helped Mrs. Morton out
of the boat. "Good anchorage for a shipwrecked mariner like me, but
no place for ladies or--or them as belongs to ladies."

"O Captain January!" cried Mrs. Morton, who was a tall, fair woman,
with eyes like Star's own. "What shall I say to you? I must seem to
you so cruel, so heartless, to come and ask for the child whom you
have loved and cared for so long. For that is what I have come for!
I must speak frankly, now that I see your kind, honest face. I have
come to take my sister's child, for it is my duty to do so." She laid
both hands on the old man's arm, and looked up in his face with
pleading, tearful eyes.

But Captain January's face did not move as he answered, quietly, "It
is your duty, Lady. No question o' that, to my mind or any. But,"
he added, with a wistful look, "I'll ask ye to do it easy, Lady. It'll
be sudden like for the--for the young lady. And--she ain't used to
bein' took sudden, my ways bein' in a manner slow. You'll happen find
her a little quick, Lady, in her ways, she bein' used to a person
as was in a manner slow, and havin' to be quick for two, so to say.
But it's the sparkle o' gold, Lady, and a glint o' diamonds."

But the lady was weeping, and could not answer; so Captain January
turned to her husband, who met him with a warm grasp of the hand,
and a few hearty and kindly words.

"And now I'll leave ye with the minister for a minute, Lady and
Gentleman," the Captain said; "for Bob Peet is a-signallin' me as
if he'd sprung a leak below the water line, and all hands goin' to
the bottom."