As soon as Peet returned after putting Star
ashore, she questioned him even more closely. He, good fellow, refused
to commit himself to anything which he fancied you might not like,
but he told her of my having performed the last rites over the mortal
remains of the child's parents, and Mr. Morton wisely counselled her
to go at once to me, instead of coming here, as she at first wished
to do. After my interview with her, I am bound to say--"
"Easy now, Minister!" interrupted Captain January. "I'm an old man,
though I never knowed it till this day. Easy with this part!"
"I am bound to say," continued the minister, laying his hand kindly
on his companion's arm, "that I think there is little doubt of Star's
being Mrs. Morton's niece."
"And what if she be?" exclaimed the old sailor, turning with a sudden
violence which made the gentle minister start back in alarm. "What
if she be? what have the lady done for her niece? Did she take her
out o' the sea, as raged like all the devils let loose, and death
itself a-hangin' round and fairly howlin' for that child? did she
stand on that rock, blind and deef and e'ena'most mazed with the
beatin' and roarin' and onearthly screechin' all round, and take that
child from its dead mother's breast, and vow to the Lord, as helped
in savin' it, to do as should be done by it? Has she prayed, and
worked, and sweat, and laid awake nights, for fear that child's
fingers should ache, this ten years past? Has she--" the old man's
voice, which had been ringing out like a trumpet, broke off suddenly.
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