'What do you want to make a man for?' wondered Gussie.
'Half a minute, and I will tell you. I must paint the thing now, and I can't see properly. Get a candle, and I will light up.'
He drew a small match-box from his pocket, and lit the candle with excited fingers.
'Blue trousers,' he murmured, dabbing on streaks of paint—'bother! a blue coat too. So dull! If only he was a soldier, now!'
'Oh, won't you tell me what it is for?' asked once more his sorely tried sister, her patience nearly at breaking point.
'You are such a ninny. You would go and tell.'
'No, I won't! I promise, Jack.'
'Lots of gold buttons,' continued that exasperating boy, splodging them about in great abundance; 'and black eyebrows, and a red nose. Like a Pirate King, you know. Dare say he is a pirate in disguise, if only one knew. It's Captain Halliard, Gussie!'
'Is he as ugly as that?' asked the little sister; 'he doesn't look so in his photograph.'
'You can't tell from photographs,' said Jack—adding, 'I expect he is a good deal uglier! He must be, or he wouldn't want to take Lilian away.'