Captain Talbot’s inclinations did not lie that way, but he respected and liked his fellow-lodger, and his vexation had been merely the momentary disinclination of a man to be interrupted, especially on his first evening at home.  He responded heartily to Master Heatherthwayte’s warm pressure of the hand and piously expressed congratulation on his safety, mixed with condolence on the grief that had befallen him.

“And you have been a good friend to my poor wife in her sorrow,” said Richard, “for the which I thank you heartily, sir.”

“Truly, sir, I could have been her scholar, with such edifying resignation did she submit to the dispensation,” returned the clergyman, uttering these long words in a broad northern accent which had nothing incongruous in it to Richard’s ears, and taking advantage of the lady’s absence on “hospitable tasks intent” to speak in her praise.

Little Humfrey, on his father’s knee, comprehending that they were speaking of the recent sorrow, put in his piece of information that “father had brought little sister back from the sea.”

“Ah, child!” said Master Heatherthwayte, in the ponderous tone of one unused to children, “thou hast yet to learn the words of the holy David, ‘I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.’”

“Bring not that thought forward, Master Heatherthwayte,” said Richard, “I am well pleased that my poor wife and this little lad can take the poor little one as a solace sent them by God, as she assuredly is.”

“Mean you, then, to adopt her into your family?” asked the minister.

“We know not if she hath any kin,” said Richard, and at that moment Susan entered, followed by the man and maid, each bearing a portion of the meal, which was consumed by the captain and the clergyman as thoroughly hungry men eat; and there was silence till the capon’s bones were bare and two large tankards had been filled with Xeres sack, captured in a Spanish ship, “the only good thing that ever came from Spain,” quoth the sailor.

Then he began to tell how he had weathered the storm on the Berwickshire coast; but he was interrupted by another knock, followed by the entrance of a small, pale, spare man, with the lightest possible hair, very short, and almost invisible eyebrows; he had a round ruff round his neck, and a black, scholarly gown, belted round his waist with a girdle, in which he carried writing tools.

“Ha, Cuthbert Langston, art thou there?” said the captain, rising.  “Thou art kindly welcome.  Sit down and crush a cup of sack with Master Heatherthwayte and me.”

“Thanks, cousin,” returned the visitor, “I heard that the Mastiff was come in, and I came to see whether all was well.”