“Poor child!” said Lady Helena. “Could he have been in the train that got off the line at Camden Bridge? Perhaps his parents are killed, and he is left alone in the world!”
“I don’t think so, madam,” replied John Mangles. “That card rather goes to prove he was traveling alone.”
“He is waking up!” said Mary.
And so he was. His eyes slowly opened and then closed again, pained by the glare of light. But Lady Helena took his hand, and he jumped up at once and looked about him in bewilderment at the sight of so many strangers. He seemed half frightened at first, but the presence of Lady Helena reassured him. “Do you understand English, my little man?” asked the young lady.
“I understand it and speak it,” replied the child in fluent enough English, but with a marked accent. His pronunciation was like a Frenchman’s.
“What is your name?” asked Lady Helena.
“Toline,” replied the little native.
“Toline!” exclaimed Paganel. “Ah! I think that means ‘bark of a tree’ in Australian.”
Toline nodded, and looked again at the travelers.
“Where do you come from?” inquired Lady Helena.