"The Maid of Sker" by R. D. Blackmore is a three-volume novel published in 1872. Set in late 18th-century Wales, the story follows an elderly fisherman who discovers a mysterious two-year-old girl washed ashore in a boat. As he watches over the child named Bardie, he becomes convinced his fortune is tied to hers. His quest to unravel her origins leads him to Devon, where he encounters suspicious characters holding secrets about missing heirs and family intrigue. (This is an automatically generated summary.)