“Yes; she wouldn’t like you to go.”
“How do you know?”
“Mrs Dean told me so. She said you were mad about red-coats.”
“That’s just like mother,” said Esau, with a grin, “allus wrong. I don’t want to wear a red coat. Blue’s my colour.”
“What—a sailor?” I said quickly.
“Get out! Sailor! all tar and taller. I’m not going to pull ropes. I mean blue uniform—’Tillery—Horse Artillery. They do look fine. I’ve seen ’em lots o’ times.”
“Here, you two, I’m going out. I shall be back in five minutes,” said Mr Dempster, so suddenly that he made us both start. “Look sharp and get that work done.”
He stood drawing a yellow silk handkerchief round and round his hat, which was already as bright as it could be made, and then setting it on very much on one side, he gave his silk umbrella a flourish, touched his diamond pin with the tip of his well-gloved finger, and strutted out.
“Back in five minutes! Yah!” cried Esau. “It’s all gammon about being honest and getting on.”
“No, it isn’t,” I said, as I carefully dotted a few i’s.