But what business had Captain Cuttwater to talk of making new heirs ?--had he not declared that the Woodwards were his heirs?
'I have got a little money, Mr.Alaric,' he went on saying in a low modest tone, very different from that he ordinarily used; 'I have got a little money--not much--and it will of course go to my niece here.' 'Of course,' said Alaric.
'That is to say--it will go to her children, which is all the same thing.' 'Quite the same thing,' said Alaric.
'But my idea is this: if a man has saved a few pounds himself, I think he has a right to give it to those he loves best.

Now I have no children of my own.' Alaric declared himself aware of the fact.
'And I suppose I shan't have any now.' 'Not if you don't marry,' said Alaric, who felt rather at a loss for a proper answer.

He could not, however, have made a better one.
'No; that's what I mean; but I don't think I shall marry.

I am very well contented here, and I like Surbiton Cottage amazingly.' 'It's a charming place,' said Alaric.
'No, I don't suppose I shall ever have any children of my own,'-- and then Uncle Bat sighed gently--'and so I have been considering whom I should like to adopt.' 'Quite right, Captain Cuttwater.' 'Whom I should like to adopt.

I should like to have one whom I could call in a special manner my own.