"But of course I always try,—except——" and there seemed to be the difficulty. The child drooped a little.
"You always do try to be a good sailor—and to give no trouble——"
"Give no trouble? What not to father?" the prince inquired, as though the very notion clashed with his preconceived idea of the uses of fathers.
"No: not to your father."
"Nor to Missy?" The round face became a little longer.
"No: never to ladies on any account."
"To whom then may I give trouble, if I may not give it to father nor to Missy?" He felt that he had put a poser.
"Don't give it."
"What not to anybody?" This was a matter, a dreadful matter, which anyhow must be pursued to the bitter end.
"Not to anybody."