Things stood thus at Surbiton Cottage when Mrs. Woodward received
a proposition from a relative of her own, which surprised them
all not a little. This was from a certain Captain Cuttwater, who
was a maternal uncle to Mrs. Woodward, and consisted of nothing
less than an offer to come and live with them for the remaining
term of his natural life. Now Mrs. Woodward's girls had seen very
little of their grand-uncle, and what little they had seen had
only taught them to laugh at him. When his name was mentioned in
the family conclave, he was always made the subject of some
little feminine joke; and Mrs. Woodward, though she always took
her uncle's part, did so in a manner that made them feel that he
was fair game for their quizzing.

When the proposal was first enunciated to the girls, they one and
all, for Katie was one of the council, suggested that it should
be declined with many thanks.

'He'll take us all for midshipmen,' said Linda, 'and stop our
rations, and mast-head us whenever we displease him.'

'I am sure he is a cross old hunks, though mamma says he's not,'
said Katie, with all the impudence of spoilt fourteen.

'He'll interfere with every one of our pursuits,' said Gertrude,
more thoughtfully, 'and be sure to quarrel with the young men.'

But Mrs. Woodward, though she had consulted her daughters,
had arguments of her own in favour of Captain Cuttwater's
proposition, which she had not yet made known to them. Good-
humoured and happy as she always was, she had her cares in the