“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, sir.”

“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 anyone say it before, papa.  You’re not angry with me, sir?” continued Amber, turning round to John Forster.

“No, not angry, little girl; but I’m too busy to talk to you—­or indeed with you, brother Edward.  Have you anything more to say?”

“Nothing, my dear brother, if I have your promise.”

“Well, you have it; but what am I to do with her, God only knows!  I wish you had kept better hours.  You mentioned some clothes which might identify her to her relations; pray let me have them; for I shall have the greatest pleasure in restoring her to them, as soon as possible, after she is once in my hands.”

“Here they are, brother,” replied Edward, taking a small packet from his coat-pocket; “you had better take charge of them now; and may God bless you for having relieved my mind from so heavy a load!”

“Humph! by taking it on my own shoulders,” muttered John, as he walked to the iron safe, to deposit the packet of linen; then returning to the table, “Have you anything more to say, brother?”

“Only to ask you where I may find my brother Nicholas?”