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.
'I like gumption,' said Captain Cuttwater.

'You've a great deal of gumption--that's why I like you.' Alaric laughed, and muttered something.
'Now I have been thinking of something;' and Uncle Bat looked strangely mysterious--'I wonder what you think of Gertrude ?' 'Who--I ?' said Alaric.
'I can see through a millstone as well as another,' said the captain; 'and I used to think that Norman and Gertrude meant to hit it off together.' Alaric said nothing.

He did not feel inclined to tell Norman's secret, and yet he could not belie Gertrude by contradicting the justice of Captain Cuttwater's opinion.
'I used to think so--but now I find there's nothing in it.

I am sure Gertrude wouldn't have him, and I think she's right.