'If the child is right, that man cannot be her father at all,' said Lord Northmoor. 'That man's name is Rattler, and he is well known at Westhaven.' 'Should you know him?' 'I never saw him, but I could soon find those who have done so.' 'If we could only prove it! Oh, what a relief it would be! I dare not even send the child to school--as I meant to do, Northmoor, for indeed we don't spoil her--for fear she should be kidnapped; and I don't know if the school-board officer won't be after her, and I can't give as a reason "for fear she should be stolen by her father."' 'Not exactly. It ought to be settled once for all. Perhaps the child will tell more when you have her alone.' 'Is not Rattler only too like a nickname, or is he a native of Westhaven?' This Lord Northmoor thought he could find out, but the dinner was hardly over before a message came that the man Jones had called again. 'Perhaps I had better see him alone,' said the guest, and Bertha was only too glad to accept the offer, so he proceeded to the little room opening into the hall, where interviews with tradesfolk or petitioners were held. The man had a blue jersey, a cap, and an evidently sailor air, or rather that of the coasting, lower stamp of seaman; but he was tall, rather handsome, and younger-looking than would have been expected of Cea's father. He looked somewhat taken aback by the appearance of a gentleman, but he stood his ground. 'So I understand that you have been making demands upon Miss Morton,' Lord Northmoor began. 'Well, sir, my lord, a father has his feelings. There is a situation offered me in Canada, and I intend to take the little girl with me.' 'Oh, indeed!' And there was a pause. 'Or if the lady has taken a fancy to her, I'd not baulk her for a sum down of twenty or five-and-twenty, once for all.' 'Oh, indeed!' again; then 'What do you say is the child's name?' 'Jones, my lord.' 'Her Christian name, I mean?' He scratched his head. 'Cissy, my lord--Celia--Cecilia. Blest if I'm sure!' as he watched the expression of the questioner. 'You see, the women has such fine names, and she was always called Baby when her poor mother was alive.' 'Where was she baptized?' 'Well, you see, my lord, the women-folk does all that, and I was at sea; and by and by I comes home to find my poor wife dead, and the little one gone.' 'I suppose you are aware that you can have no legal claim to the child without full proof of her belonging to you--the certificate of your marriage and a copy of the register of her birth?' The man was scarcely withheld from imprecations upon the work that was made about it, when Miss Morton had been quite satisfied on a poor fellow's word. 'Yes, ladies may be satisfied for a time, but legally more than your word is required, and you will remember that unless you can bring full proof that this is your child, there is such a thing as prosecution for obtaining money on false pretences.'