“No, of course not,” agreed the old gentleman, “of course not.”
“So, then,” continued Bob, “they sent us on first; and we’re going to the seaside, where we’ve never been before! Isn’t it jolly?”
“Very jolly,” responded the old gentleman smiling. “I wish I were as young as you are to enjoy it all over again, in spite of my having seen enough of the sea in my time.”
“Are you a sailor, sir?” asked Nellie, chiming in. “I mean a sailor officer, sir, you know?”
“Yes, an old one, put on the shelf after fighting the battles of my country for many a long year!” said the old gentleman, with a deep sigh that almost made the carriage shake. He then extracted a silver snuff-box from his waistcoat-pocket; and taking a pinch, which seemed to relieve his feelings, added, as if to change the subject, “But, my young friends, you haven’t told me where you are going.”
“Why, to Portsmouth, to be sure, sir,” said Bob promptly. “I thought you knew it; and—”
“And we are to stop at aunt Polly’s till papa and mamma come down,” again interposed Miss Nellie, who had lost all her timidity and wanted to have her share in the talk. “Dear aunt Polly, how glad I shall be to see her again!”
“Oh, indeed! But, who is aunt Polly?”
Really, he was a most inquisitive old gentleman!
The children, however, did not seem to notice this; and went on to tell how their aunt Polly was the dearest aunt they believed any one ever had, and the nicest.