"Let's think of the naughty things people do. Mr. Trelawny cut off your hair yesterday without asking leave. Wasn't that a sort of sin?"
Esther was rather taken aback at this method of treating the subject; but before she had found words in which to reply, the boy had broken out again,—
"I tell you what I think it is—the sin that so easily besets him is doing just as he likes, and being what Crump calls 'lord high everything.' Don't you think that's Uncle Bob's sin, Ess?"
Esther looked straight at Pickle, and answered with some spirit,—
"I know somebody else who always wants to do as he likes, and cares very little what other people say or think."
Pickle looked suddenly taken aback.
"My stars!" he exclaimed.
Bertie pointed one finger at Pickle and another at Puck. His square face was bubbling over with a subdued sense of humor.
"She means you," said Puck: "I know she does. It's just what you're always saying. You do what you like, and don't care what people say. If it's a sin, it's your sin too."
"Oh dear!" cried Pickle, really interested now; "I never thought of that before. Did you mean that, Ess?"