"'Tis a rough crib for you to-night, my pretty," he said apologetically; "but I'll knock up a new little cot for you on the morrow, and you shall live like a princess. My mind misgives me, that woman--mother or no mother--will scarce be fetching you away yet a while. I would I had thought to look round for her more speedily, but who would have so mistrusted a woman! Ah, what is this?" For as he folded up the little embroidered frock, he discovered a piece of paper sewn to the waistband, and hastily cutting it off, and bringing it to the light, he read: "One who knows Jack the boatman to be an honest and true man commits to him the care of her child, in perfect trust that he will be to her a faithful and loving guardian, until such time as she is claimed by an unhappy mother. Let him not seek to know of her birth or parentage, but treat her as a daughter, for which love and kindness shown to her he shall receive a full reward. Two charges only are laid upon him concerning her--firstly, that she shall never be permitted to taste strong drink, nor to witness, in so far as it may be prevented, its dire effect upon others; and secondly, that she shall not be suffered to venture within a stone's throw of the Castle on the Hill, lest its dread curse fall upon her. This mercy is prayed for at the hands of Jack the boatman by one who claims to be a kinswoman." After reading this strange appeal to his faithfulness and honesty, Jack leaned back in his chair, and sank deep in thought. "Kinswoman!" he said to himself in astonishment. "In good sooth, I knew not there were a soul akin to me left in the world! Sure enough, when I was but a child, there was here and there one that was of kin to my father, but I have thought them all dead and gone this many a year. And if not, 'tis never in these parts they have dwelt, so what should any one of them know of Jack the boatman, whatever? Well, I have ever tried to be an honest man, and I would be true to this little helpless maid, an nought had been spoken of money. Yet I cannot but say it will be a useful creature of God for the keeping of the pretty little love in the way, to which, I trow, she has been used. What if I shall maybe never get it? What if it be but a sorry cheat, to get rid of a poor little stolen babe? I misdoubt me that I must needs be the laughing-stock of my neighbours for a season, an I confess to pinning my faith to this bit of paper! I will e'en say nought to any one of them, save, only that the charge of this small kinswoman hath been suddenly laid upon me. So, my pretty, I will lock the letter away in the old chest here, and none shall set an eye thereon, and, God help me, I will be a true father to thee." And Jack bent his head for a moment over the little golden one on the pillow, before he sought the rest which such an eventful day had well earned.