“Oh, that’s all right,” said Porky. “We don’t intend they shall go to any asylum. Our mother has adopted them.” “Your what?” asked the captain after a prolonged stare. “Our mother,” repeated Porky. “Your mother has _WHAT_?” said the captain. “Just repeat it all.” “Our mother has adopted them,” said Porky patiently and distinctly. The captain pushed back his cap and stared. “Where is your mother?” he asked. “Home,” said Porky. “New York state,” added Beany. “She wanted something to remember the war by, so we are going to take her these. She didn’t want any German helmets or anything of that sort. She said she didn’t want ever to be reminded of helmets, so we will take her these instead.” “But, good heavens!” said the officer. “You ought not do anything like that! She would have to bring them up.” “That’s all right, too,” said Porky. “Mom has had experience. She has had us, and one of these is a girl. Girls ought to be easier than boys.” “No, she won’t mind and, anyhow, we are going to do all the hard work ourselves. Teaching them swimming and baseball and all that.” “The girl will like that,” said the officer dryly. “Course she will!” said Beany, looking proudly down at the future baseballess. “It’s like this,” said Porky. “Our people always trust us, and we know it will be all right. I do hope you can fix it for us, Captain.” “It would be a wonderful thing for those poor little orphans,” mused the Captain. “But how would you get them home?” “That’s easy,” said Porky. “Our time is up pretty soon. You see we were only allowed a limited stay. That was the agreement when we came, and we can take the kids over with us. Won’t you _please_ get General Pershing to fix it up for us? There will be some woman on board to tell us what they ought to eat, and when to put ’em to bed and all that.” “It would be a wonderful thing,” said the Captain again. “If you are sure about your mother. It’s a good deal to wish off on her.” “Feel in my left pocket,” said Porky. “Feel that letter? Now take it out and read it. It’s all right. She wouldn’t mind, and I’m proud of mother’s letters.” The Captain drew out the letter which was much thumbed and soiled, and read: “_My own dear boys_: “It was good to hear from you both again after the long time between letters. A whole month, in which we received not so much as a post card. But something told me that you were safe and well, so I did not worry. You know, dears, I am not the worrying kind when it comes to that. Your dad, who boasts continually that he never worries over _any_thing, does all the fussing for the whole family, but as long as he doesn’t know it, and we never tell him, why, I suppose it is all right. “I wrote you a long letter yesterday, telling you all the news of the neighborhood, and this is only a note to acknowledge your letter at once because in my letter I said that we had not heard in a long time.