“Laugh at a man.”
“You don’t think I was laughing at you?” said Dick, gravely.
“No, no—of course not. You wouldn’t, my lad. But, my word! how you are growing, Smithson! It’s the drilling. You have altered since you came.”
“Have I?”
“Wonderfully, my lad—wonderfully! Men showed up well this morning,” he continued, seating himself.
“Capitally,” said Dick.
“Couldn’t hear what the colonel said, could you?”
“Every word.”
“But you couldn’t see, could you?” said the sergeant, appealingly.
“Oh, yes; two great slits, with the stuffing coming out.”