Her question was answered by the sound of voices outside; and the
next moment the minister appeared, followed by Mr. Morton and Captain
January. The old Captain hastened to place a chair for each of the
gentlemen by the fireside, and then took his stand against the wall
on the further side of the room. He held his weather-beaten cap in
his hand, and turned it slowly round and round, considering it
attentively. It might have been observed by one quick to notice
trifles, that he did not look at the child, though no slightest motion
of hers was lost upon him.

"George," said Mrs. Morton, joyously, to her husband, "here is our
little niece, dearest Helena's child. She is going to love me, she
says, and she will love you, too. Star, my darling, this is your Uncle
George. Will you not give him a kiss, and be his little girl as well
as mine? We have two little girls at home, and you shall be the
third."

Star went obediently to Mr. Morton, who kissed her warmly, and tried
to take her on his knee. "You are taller than our Grace," he said,
"but I don't believe you are as heavy, my dear. Grace is just your
age, and I am sure you will be great friends."

But Star slipped quietly from his arms, and, running to the Captain,
took one of his hands in both of hers and kissed it. "I am Daddy
Captain's little girl!" she said, looking round bravely at the
others. "Why do you talk as if I belonged to you?" Then seeing the
trouble in Mrs. Morton's face, she added, "I _will_ love you, truly
I will, and I will call you Aunt Isabel; but I cannot belong to
different people, 'cause I'm only just one. Just Captain January's