I felt as I looked at them that if I had had children of my
own I could have wished no better home for them, nor better
companions.
Georgie and Alice, Ernest's two children, were evidently quite as
one family with the others, and called Mr. and Mrs. Rollings uncle and
aunt. They had been so young when they were first brought to the house
that they had been looked upon in the light of new babies who had been
born into the family. They knew nothing about Mr. and Mrs. Rollings
being paid so much a week to look after them. Ernest asked them all
what they wanted to be. They had only one idea; one and all, Georgie
among the rest, wanted to be bargemen. Young ducks could hardly have a
more evident hankering after the water.
"And what do you want, Alice?" said Ernest.
"Oh," she said, "I'm going to marry Jack here, and be a bargeman's
wife."
Jack was the eldest boy, now nearly twelve, a sturdy little
fellow, the image of what Mr. Rollings must have been at his age. As
we looked at him, so straight and well grown and well done all
round, I could see it was in Ernest's mind as much as in mine that she
could hardly do much better.
"Come here, Jack, my boy," said Ernest, "here's a shilling for you.
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