child. Worn out as I am, my pilgrimage
on earth can be but short; and if you would smooth the pillow of a dying
brother, promise him now that you will extend your bounty to this poor
orphan, when I'm no more!"

Edward Forster's voice was tremulous at the close of his appeal, and his
brother appeared to be affected. There was a silence of a minute, when
the customary "humph!" was ejaculated, and John Forster then continued:
"A very foolish business, brother--very foolish indeed. When Nicholas
and his son came here the other day and applied to me--why, it was all
very well there was relationship;--but really, to put another man's
child upon me!"

"Not while it pleases Heaven to spare _my_ life, brother."

"`May you live a thousand years!' then, as the Spanish say; but,
however, brother Edward, as you say, the poor thing must not starve; so,
if I am to take care of a child of another man's begetting, as soon as
you are dead, I can only say, it will very much increase my sorrow at
your loss. Come here, little one: What's your name?"

"Amber."

"Amber! who the devil gave you that fool's name?"

"I did, brother," replied Edward, "I thought it appropriate."

"Humph! really can't see why. Why did you not call her Sukey, or some
name fit for a Christian? Amber! Amber's a gum, is it not? Stop,
let's see what Johnson says."

The lawyer went to a case of books which were in the next room, and
returned with a quarto.

"Now," said he, seating himself; "AG--AL--AM--Ambassador--Ambassadress--
Amber! humph! here it is, `A yellow transparent substance of a gummous
or bituminous consistence, but of a resinous taste, and a smell like oil
of turpentine; chiefly found in the Baltic sea or the coast of Prussia.'
Humph! `Some have imagined it to consist of the tears of birds; others
the'--humph!--`of a beast; others the scum of the Lake Cephesis, near
the Atlantic; others a congelation in some fountains, where it is found
swimming like pitch.' Really, brother," continued the lawyer, fixing
his eyes on the little girl, and shutting the book, "I can't see the
analogy."

"Be her godfather, my dear brother, and call her any name you please."

"Humph!"

"Pray, papa," said Amber, turning to Edward Forster, "what's the meaning
of humph?"

"Humph!" repeated the lawyer, looking hard at Amber.

"It implies yes or no, as it may be," replied Edward Forster, smiling.

"I never heard any one say it before, papa. You're not angr