"I've had my suspicions at times," returned Miss Ri. "Come in, but don't talk loud, so as to waken Linda; the child needs all the sleep she can get. Now, go on; tell me what you want."
"I want you to tell me exactly who Linda's forbears were; that is, on the Talbot side. Her father was James, I know."
"Yes, and his father was Martin. He had a brother, but he died early; there were only the two sons, but there was a daughter, I believe."
"And their father was?"
"Let me see—Monroe? No, Madison; that's it, Madison Talbot, and his father was James again. I can't give you the collaterals so far back."
"Humph! Well, I reckon that will do."
"What in the world are you up to? Are you making a family tree for Linda?"
"No; but I have some curiosity upon the subject of old titles, and as it may come in my way, I thought I would look up Talbot's Angles."
"There's no use in doing that. Linda has the original land grant in her possession. Poor child, she clings to that, and I am glad she can. I wish to goodness you'd marry Grace, Berk Matthews, so Verlinda could get her rights."
"I'd do a good deal for a pretty girl, but I couldn't bring myself up to the scratch of marrying Grace Talbot. Now, if it were Linda herself, that might be a different matter."