human
Heaven has sent her to us. She shall be our inspiration, and the symbol of our good. Treat her with reverence, and tenderly, as you would treat the best and purest aspiration of your heart. If we wrong her, it will be our deadliest sin. If we cherish her, the sins we have committed may be forgiven us.
gpt
She is a gentleman's daughter, at all events, said Jael.
human
Look at the shape of her hands and feet! No, she never worked, nor did her mother before her. Well, maybe her family will come after her some day, and pay us well for taking care of her. Or who knows but she may turn out heiress to some great estate, when she grows up? If that were so.... David, son, come hither. See--she's a pretty little thing.
gpt
And so she is--a little beauty! he exclaimed, looking into her blue eyes.
human
Can't speak English, eh? That's a pity; but live and learn. Right glad am I that you brought her here, sir, he added to Gloam.
gpt
Where did you pick her up?
human
She's the rainbow after the storm, Gloam answered, smiling.
gpt
But I shall not teach her English. Let her speak only the language which she has brought with her.
human
That may do for him, muttered David,
gpt
She looks thirteen, don't you think? said Jael.
human
She won't be a child much longer, David. Why, come three years or so, she'll be old enough to be married.
gpt
Ay, old woman; but I shall be too old to marry her,
human
I tell you, son, she's a lady, and good enough to mate with any man.
gpt
That's your notion, and likely enough it's true. But good blood isn't all I want--I've got that already, thanks to your good looks; what I want and haven't got is money. And Miss Swanhilda, pretty as she is, has less money even than I.
human
But she has relations--rich relations; her own father and mother may be alive for all we know. If she was saved off a ship where all the rest were lost, of course there'll be no telling for some time to come. But it's worth waiting for.
gpt
Did no papers come ashore--nothing to help identify her?
human
I asked Poyntz that, said Jael,
gpt
Well, I'll make sure of that next time I go over. We might advertise in the foreign papers after awhile. A right pretty little thing she is, and no mistake. But I'm not a-going to run any risks, old woman. Supposing I was to get tied down to her for life, and then find out that she'd got nothing, what would I do then?
human
There's no need of supposing any such thing, David. As if you couldn't make the girl fond of you so as she wouldn't marry any but you; then you'd have her safe, and if all turned out well, 'twould be time enough to put the ring on her finger.
gpt
Ay, that's about the idea, I suppose. Well, the Scholar's got the start of us now; and 'twon't do to let him see what we're up to; luckily he never did see what's going on under his nose. By-the-way, that's a quaint bit of a necklace the child wears; mayhaps that'll help us to find out something----