"There are some necessary legal forms to be gone through," said the earl, "and as business is always disagreeable, it will be well, perhaps, if we settle that at once. My lawyer is in attendance. It will be necessary for you and Mrs. Brace to make an affidavit stating that this is indeed my daughter, the infant placed under your charge."
"That will be easy enough," said Mark. "If some one does the writing, I will sign."
Lord Linleigh laughed; Mrs. Brace looked a little scandalized at the very free-and-easy speech. The earl said, laying his hand caressingly on the girl's shoulder:
"This becomes a very important lady now; we must be careful what we do about her. She is Lady Doris Studleigh, and that is one of the oldest titles in England."
"Who could have thought it?" said kindly Mrs. Brace. "Lady Doris Studleigh, let me be the first, your ladyship—my dear—to wish you health and strength to enjoy your good fortune."
The earl was pleased when he saw his daughter clasp her arms round her foster-mother's neck.
"She has a loving, grateful heart," he said to himself, "and that is rare enough in a Studleigh."
He little dreamed that in those few minutes Doris had read his character accurately, and that the action was performed entirely to please him.
The bell was rung, and the lawyer appeared. The affidavits were soon drawn out. Mark and his wife each swore solemnly that the young lady they brought to the earl was the child who had been left under their charge. Mark was greatly relieved when he found that he had nothing more to do than to sign his own name.
"Affidavits were certainly never less necessary," said the lawyer—"the Lady Doris has a true Studleigh face."