'But my idea is this: if a man has saved a few pounds himself, I think he has a right to give it to those he loves best. Now I have no children of my own.' Alaric declared himself aware of the fact. 'And I suppose I shan't have any now.' 'Not if you don't marry,' said Alaric, who felt rather at a loss for a proper answer. He could not, however, have made a better one. 'No; that's what I mean; but I don't think I shall marry. I am very well contented here, and I like Surbiton Cottage amazingly.' 'It's a charming place,' said Alaric. 'No, I don't suppose I shall ever have any children of my own,'--and then Uncle Bat sighed gently--'and so I have been considering whom I should like to adopt.' 'Quite right, Captain Cuttwater.' 'Whom I should like to adopt. I should like to have one whom I could call in a special manner my own. Now, Mr. Alaric, I have made up my mind, and who do you think it is?' 'Oh! Captain Cuttwater, I couldn't guess on such a matter. I shouldn't like to guess wrong.' 'Perhaps not--no; that's right;--well then, I'll tell you; it's Gertrude.' Alaric was well aware that it was Gertrude before her name had been pronounced. 'Yes, it's Gertrude; of course I couldn't go out of Bessie's family--of course it must be either Gertrude, or Linda, or Katie. Now Linda and Katie are very well, but they haven't half the gumption that Gertrude has.' 'No, they have not,' said Alaric. 'I like gumption,' said Captain Cuttwater. 'You've a great deal of gumption--that's why I like you.' Alaric laughed, and muttered something. 'Now I have been thinking of something;' and Uncle Bat looked strangely mysterious--'I wonder what you think of Gertrude?' 'Who--I?' said Alaric. 'I can see through a millstone as well as another,' said the captain; 'and I used to think that Norman and Gertrude meant to hit it off together.' Alaric said nothing. He did not feel inclined to tell Norman's secret, and yet he could not belie Gertrude by contradicting the justice of Captain Cuttwater's opinion. 'I used to think so--but now I find there's nothing in it. I am sure Gertrude wouldn't have him, and I think she's right. He hasn't gumption enough.' 'Harry Norman is no fool.' 'I dare say not,' said the captain; 'but take my word, she'll never have him--Lord bless you, Norman knows that as well as I do.' Alaric knew it very well himself also; but he did not say so. 'Now, the long and the short of it is this--why don't you make up to her? If you'll make up to her and carry the day, all I can say is, I will do all I can to keep the pot a-boiling; and if you think it will help you, you may tell Gertrude that I say so.'