'Gertrude, uncle! Why Gertrude is a grown-up woman now. That's
Katie, whom you remember an infant.'

'God bless my soul!' said the captain, as though he thought that
girls must grow twice quicker at Hampton than they did at
Devonport or elsewhere, 'God bless my soul!'

He was then ushered into the drawing-room, and introduced in form
to his grand-nieces. 'This is Gertrude, uncle, and this Linda;
there is just enough difference for you to know them apart. And
this Katie. Come here, Katie, and kiss your uncle.'

Katie came up, hesitated, looked horrified, but did manage to get
her face somewhat close to the old man's without touching the
tremendous nose, and then having gone through this peril she
retreated again behind the sofa.

'Well; bless my stars, Bessie, you don't tell me those are your
children?'

'Indeed, uncle, I believe they are. It's a sad tale for me to
tell, is it not?' said the blooming mother with a laugh.

'Why, they'll be looking out for husbands next,' said Uncle Bat.

'Oh! they're doing that already, every day,' said Katie.

'Ha, ha, ha!' laughed Uncle Bat; 'I suppose so, I suppose so;--
ha, ha, ha!'