Evidently dropped from the talons of the
bird, it was looked upon as a special gift of Providence, a deposit
direct from the skies; to have rejected which would have been a heinous
offence, and an unlawful contravention of the designs of the Giver.
Accordingly, the infant was taken home and carefully nursed, being
baptized by the name of Oskatell.
The good lady became surprisingly enamoured of the little foundling,
believing his adoption was dictated by the will of Heaven; and to this
decision its father readily acceded. Sir Thomas, to give the greater
sanction to this supposed miracle, as well as to remove all suspicion of
fraud from the prying eyes of a censorious world, assumed for his crest
an eagle on the wing, proper, looking round as though for something she
had lost.
The child grew in years and stature, being liberally furnished in all
things according with the dignity he was destined to receive. Sir Thomas
purposed the sharing of his wealth equally between his children, a
measure which had the entire concurrence of Lady de Lathom. Though
younger by some years, Oskatell was generally considered by the world as
the future husband of Isabella; but Sir Thomas, aware of danger on this
head, early impressed them with some notion of consanguinity, and
intimated the impossibility of their union.
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