"I'm really too curious," he said, "so I think I'll threaten to sit on this stump, until you tell me the secret, and let me tell you two little friends, that I've a secret; it's a nice one, too, but,—" he paused to watch the effect of his words.
"But—But—" they cried.
"But,—" said Uncle Harry, "I wouldn't tell mine first!"
Wag that he was, he could not resist the temptation to tease just a bit.
Dorothy took the pretty book, and opening it at the page that showed the picture of the prince, she said, "We only said the brave prince looked like you, no, I mean you look like him, and we said you'd look just like him if you had a cap with plumes."
Uncle Harry appeared to study the picture very carefully. After a moment, he said:
"That's a fine compliment, but there's one thing about it that worries me, so I'll have to ask about it.
"In this picture the prince wears a blue blouse and a pair of green shoes, a pink cap with white plumes, gray hose, and crimson trunks. Now, if I should decide to purchase a pink cap with white plumes, would you expect me to come out arrayed in all those colors? I really feel that the costume is a bit, just a bit too gay."
"Oh, we'll not ask you to be quite as gay as that," said Dorothy, "and we'll promise one thing. We won't even ask you to buy a pink cap if you'll tell us your secret now."
He laughed gaily.