'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.