It was about this time that Mrs Skipper had a quiet talk with her husband, and told him about those curious birth-marks, and what she half-suspected, and what she was going to do about it. Even the mate was taken into confidence and his advice asked. But he had not much to give. He really was both innocent and good, but knew more about handling a ship than anything else. 'Seems to me, Mrs Captain,' this was all he said, 'as how it is a 'tarposition o' Providence from first to last. And He--the great Power above us all--does move in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.' 'Well,' said Mrs Paterson, 'you are both men-people and have your reason to guide you. I am only a woman-person, and have merely my instinct; but, Providence here or Providence there, something tells me that a great wrong has been done to that dear child, and mebbe we may be put in the way to redress it.' 'That is,' said the mate solemnly, 'if your suspeecions is right, Mrs Captain. If they's wrong, then'---- 'Well, then, of course, there will be no harm done, only we must take good care to say nothing to Lotty one way or another till we see.' 'That's right, that _is_ right, Mrs Captain; and I'm truly glad I've given you good advice, which I hope you won't be above thinking over.' As the honest mate had given no advice, one way nor another, it certainly would not take very long to think it over. That was a somewhat rough and stormy passage homewards; but the wind was for the most part fair, and under such circumstances she 'skeeted' along like a water-witch, and in due time the cliffs of Old England hove in sight far off on the lee-bow, lying along like a gray cloud on the horizon. Lotty could scarcely believe she was so near, for the voyage out had been a lengthy one, and so many things had happened since she was picked up by the _Nor'larn' Star_ that she felt quite a year older at the very least. That last evening the boy Ben was very sad indeed. 'Which,' he said to Lotty, 'we've 'ad a 'igh old time of it, missie; but lor! it's gone now, and we'll maybe never see ye in life again--no, nor Norlans either.' 'Oh,' said Lotty, with an attempt at good-humour, 'Norlans will be a big boy before he sees his papa again. I'm going to take him to camp, and some day, perhaps, his daddy will come right away down to see him, and his mammy also.' 'Am just a-goin' to live an' dream about that day, Miss Lotty; an' who knows but that when I'm a capting of a big ship you may not sail along o' me again.' 'Who knows?' answered the gipsy lass. And the last thing the girl saw as she left by the gangway, which led over several vessels before she could reach the quay, was second-mate Ben gazing sorrowfully after her. There were tears in his eyes, too, that he had no need to be ashamed of. And there was more than he looked after the little gipsy lass, and waved her a hearty good-bye, for her presence on board had really brought light and joy to many a man of the _Nor'lan' Star_.