e 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.

They informed the old gentleman, likewise, that this loved aunt of
theirs came up to town every year regularly at Christmas-time to pay
them a visit; although they, on their part, had never been able to go
down to see her until now, something or other having always happened to
prevent their proceeding to the sea.

"Well, better late than never," said their fellow-traveller, whom Bob
and Nellie began to look upon now quite as an old acquaintance--"I've no
doubt you'll enjoy yourselves. But, my dears, you haven't mentioned
your aunt's name--her surname, I mean. Perhaps I might know her, for
I'm an old resident of Portsmouth, or rather Southsea, which is just
outside the lines and where all the best people live now."

"Mrs Gilmour, sir," replied Nellie. "That's aunt Polly's name."

"What, Polly Gilmour, the widow of my old shipmate Ted Gilmour, who
commanded the _Bucephalus_ on the West Coast for two commissions and
died of fever in the Bight of Benin? Bless my soul, who'd have thought
it!"

"Yes, sir, Uncle Gilmour was in the Navy," put in Bob as if to
corroborate the surmise of the old gentleman. "He was Captain Gilmour,
sir."

His questioner, though, appeared for the moment lost in thought, his
mind evidently occupied with a flood of old memories connected with his
lost friend and their life afloat together.

"Dear, dear, who'd have thought it!" he repeated, as if speaking to
himself. Then, presently, recovering his composure with an effort,
aided by another pinch of snuff, he said aloud--"And so, you two
children are poor Ted Gilmour's niece and nephew, eh?"

"Yes, sir," replied Bob and Nellie in one breath, answering the
question. "You just ask auntie and see what she says, sir."

"I'm very glad to hear it," said the old gentleman, hastily pulling
Ne