Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/210

 "that He sent us to take care of you, and take you to your mother if that be possible. But tell me, little one, what is your name?"

"Letta."

"And your surname?"

"My what!" exclaimed Letta, opening her large eyes to their widest, causing both Sam and Robin to laugh.

"Your other name, dear," said Sam.

"I have no other name. Mamma always called me Letta—nothing else."

"And what was mamma's name?" asked Robin. "It was mamma, of course," replied Letta, with a look of wonder that so silly a question should be asked.

Sam and Robin exchanged looks, and the former shook his head. "You 'll not get much information out of her I fear. Ask her about the pirates," he whispered.

"Letta," said Robin, settling the child more comfortably on his knee—an attention which she received with a sigh of deep contentment,—"are the people here kind to you?"

"Yes, very kind. Old Meerta is as kind to me almost as mamma used to be, but I don't love her so much—not nearly so much,—and blind Bungo is a dear old man."

"That 's nice. And the others—are they kind to you?"