The reason of his eagerness was soon apparent. The blouse and bunchy petticoats were raiment of the past; Pauly was attired in all the glories of his first sailor suit!
Sydney knelt down beside the small sturdy figure and kissed the round important little face. “Why, Pauly, you are splendid! and what a great big boy you look to-day!”
“As big as Daddy?” he enquired.
“Ever so much bigger than you looked when first I saw you,” Sydney answered, evading the question with dexterity. “Isn’t he a man to-day, Miss Osric?”
Miss Osric admired duly, and then suggested an adjournment to the school-room. But Pauly stood like a rock, his legs planted wide apart and his hands in his pockets.
“Want to show my twousers to Mrs. Fewkes,” he said.
“Oh, but you can’t, little man,” said Miss Osric.
“Come, Pauly!” Sydney cried.
He did not budge.
“Want to show my twousers to Mr. Gweaves.”