When he awoke next morning, he felt as if the events of the previous night were only a strangely vivid dream, and not till he rose and saw the fair curly head lying on the pillow of the little corner-bed he had improvised so hastily, could he realise that Little Miss Primrose was no creation of his own brain, but a living fact and an actual existence. The little stranger submitted to be dressed and fed, and as Jack was wondering somewhat doubtfully what to do next for his baby-guest's entertainment, there came a knock at his door, and he opened it to admit Master Evans the miller, who had come as early as possible to satisfy himself that his friend's dwelling had not been swept away in the night. The miller's astonishment at seeing a tiny golden-haired girl seated on a high chair at the boatman's table, drumming on the table with a spoon in a free and easy manner, as if she felt perfectly at home, was too great to find expression in words. Jack came to his relief. "You knew not that I was about to have a visitor, friend Evans?" he said cheerfully. "Well, indeed, it was a rough day for them to send the wee maid hither, but she is safe and well, the little darling, and no way worse for the storm whatever. She is akin to me, and being left on my hands sudden-wise, is going to be my little daughter or grandchild, or whatsoever I choose to make of her." "Akin to you?" said the miller. "Why then, Jack man, I thought you reckoned to have neither kith nor kin left to thee!" "Well, indeed I thought it," answered Jack candidly; "but in truth there is no saying what a man may have got till it is put before him, and it would seem that some one I thought dead and gone has tarried a while longer here below than I thought. This little thing was sent to me yestere'en, with a charge upon me to take care of her as though she were my own, and though I know naught of those who sent her, kin is kin, and I doubt not the babe will bring a blessing. It is likewise comforting to a man to find he is after all not alone in the world, and though I marvel somewhat at this new treasure vouchsafed me, I am withal right glad to possess it." "It is passing strange," said the miller. "Also, if you indeed knew naught of your relations, how came they, think you, to know you to be one meet to be entrusted with the child?"