"How should I hear? We sailed that day for Sydney, and we never heard nothing about it."
"What was her name?" asked Brandon.
"I don't know at all for certain; there was so many people in the house, that though she had been there three days, I had not asked nor had mother, but yet we must have heard it. I fancy it was Jackson, or Johnson, or Jones, or it might be Brown, but it was a common name as there's no recollecting. When mother took the child first, she thought she'd never know the one from the other; but afterwards she used to say that the mother might find out the difference. Both was much of a size, and my boy was much changed."
"But," said Brandon, "there might be more or fewer teeth, or a difference in the colour and length of the hair, or in the shape of the limbs, though the features and complexion might be changed by the convulsions. Your child was probably more emaciated than the other. A mother's eye might have seen differences that you in your hurried examination did not."
"Oh, the other appeared to be teething too; but, as you say, I think it is most like she did see the difference, but being out of the country I heard nothing about it."
"When did this happen?" asked Brandon.
"Thirty-four years ago and more we sailed from London Docks for Sydney," said Mrs. Peck.
"Where did you lodge in London when this affair took place?"
"At a lodging-house in —— Street, near the Docks; I think the number was 39, but I am not quite sure."
"Can you tell me the name of the ship the mother of the present proprietor of Cross Hall went to America in?" asked Brandon.