"You, of course, were not aware--I mean my old friend never told you who he really was ?" Her anxious look grew more wistful.
"No, and indeed I never asked," she said.

"He was so feeble when I took him to my home out of the storm, and for weeks afterwards he was so dangerously ill, that I thought questions might worry him.

Besides it was not my business to bother about where he came from.

He was just old and poor and friendless--that was enough for me." "I hope--I do very much hope," said Sir Francis gently, "that you will not allow yourself to be too much startled--or--or overcome by what I have to tell you.

David--he said his name was David, did he not ?" She made a sign of assent.