"They'll look jolly nice when they are finished," said Pamela, "can't I help you?"
Hughie rejected help.
"I've made a white ensign for the new boat," he said, nodding towards the tiny flag that lay finished on the box-top.
"Ripping!" exclaimed Pamela, picking up the bit of work. It was most beautifully made. Seeing her undoubted admiration Hughie fished out of his coloured heap a fine cord to which were attached a succession of wonderful little flags and burgees in many colours and designs.
"Signal halyards," he said, "it took me weeks--and months. It's the whole code."
"Hughie, you are rather surprising," said Pamela, as she examined the extraordinary result of skill and patience. Then she pushed the boxes a little to one side and seated herself on the corner of the oak chest.
"I rather wanted to tell you something," she began.
"I know," said Hughie, adding as she paused in surprise, "is it about the pig-tail girl?"
Pamela told him what had happened, and what Christobel had asked her.
Hughie made no comment.