ight to claim you than we have, and
should he prove his claim, we should be unable to hold you from him."

"But how can any one have a claim upon me? I don't understand, aunt,"
said Mary, completely puzzled. "Pray tell me what Mr Farrance does
say."

"You shall hear his letter, and then judge for yourself, my dear child,"
said Miss Sally, and again holding the letter before her spectacles, she
read--

"My Dear Miss Pack,--I lose no time in informing you during your good
brother's absence of a circumstance which may possibly greatly affect
your young charge Mary. I must tell you that I had a brother who, at an
early age, having married imprudently, left England, and that I and the
rest of his family long supposed him dead. Two days ago a gentleman,
who said that he had just returned to this country after having resided
for many years in one of the Dutch East India settlements, called upon
me. After some conversation he inquired whether I suspected who he was,
and, greatly to my astonishment, he announced himself as my long-lost
brother. He was so changed by time and a pestiferous climate, and
sorrow and trials of all sorts, that I had a great difficulty in
recognising him, though I was at length satisfied that he was my
brother, and as such welcomed him home. While he was yesterday evening
narrating the events of his life, he mentioned having sent his wife,
whose health required a change of climate, and their only child, a
little girl, on board a ship bound for the Cape of Good Hope, where a
correspondent of his house had promised to receive them, but that the
ship was lost and that all on board, it was believed, had perished. On
hearing this it at once struck me as possible, and remember I say barely
possible, that the child picked up by Lieutenant Pack might be my
brother's daughter. On comparing dates I found, as nearly as I can
calculate, that they agree. Of course I do not forget that there might
have been several children of the same ago on board the ship. Even
should the wreck Mr Pack fell in with have been a portion of the
ill-fated ship, yet some other child instead of my brother's might have
been saved. It would be difficult, but not impossible, to identify her.
My brother is more sanguine than I am on the subject, and is anxious to
come down with me as soon as his health will allow, if you will give us
permission, to see your young charge. You may possibly have preserved
the clothes she had on