She was sitting in an upper room on one of the lath-backed, willow-bottomed 'shepherd's' chairs, made on the spot then as to this day, and as they were probably made there in the days of the Heptarchy. In her lap was an infant, which she had been suckling, though now it had fallen asleep; so had the young mother herself for a few minutes, under the drowsing effects of solitude. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she awoke, started up with a glad cry, and ran to the door, opening which she met her brother on the threshold. 'O, this is merry; I didn't expect 'ee!' she said. 'Ah, Roger--I thought it was John.' Her tones fell to disappointment. The sailor kissed her, looked at her sternly for a few moments, and pointing to the infant, said, 'You mean the father of this?' 'Yes, my husband,' said Edith. 'I hope so,' he answered. 'Why, Roger, I'm married--of a truth am I!' she cried. 'Shame upon 'ee, if true! If not true, worse. Master Stocker was an honest man, and ye should have respected his memory longer. Where is thy husband?' 'He comes often. I thought it was he now. Our marriage has to be kept secret for a while--it was done privily for certain reasons; but we was married at church like honest folk--afore God we were, Roger, six months after poor Stocker's death.' ''Twas too soon,' said Roger. 'I was living in a house alone; I had nowhere to go to. You were far over sea in the New Found Land, and John took me and brought me here.' 'How often doth he come?' says Roger again. 'Once or twice weekly,' says she. 'I wish th' 'dst waited till I returned, dear Edy,' he said. 'It mid be you are a wife--I hope so. But, if so, why this mystery? Why this mean and cramped lodging in this lonely copse-circled town? Of what standing is your husband, and of where?' 'He is of gentle breeding--his name is John. I am not free to tell his family-name. He is said to be of London, for safety' sake; but he really lives in the county next adjoining this.' 'Where in the next county?' 'I do not know. He has preferred not to tell me, that I may not have the secret forced from me, to his and my hurt, by bringing the marriage to the ears of his kinsfolk and friends.' Her brother's face flushed. 'Our people have been honest townsmen, well- reputed for long; why should you readily take such humbling from a sojourner of whom th' 'st know nothing?' They remained in constrained converse till her quick ear caught a sound, for which she might have been waiting--a horse's footfall. 'It is John!' said she. 'This is his night--Saturday.' 'Don't be frightened lest he should find me here!' said Roger. 'I am on the point of leaving. I wish not to be a third party. Say nothing at all about my visit, if it will incommode you so to do. I will see thee before I go afloat again.'