at them sails, every one of 'em drawin' fine; and them ropes, every one
in JEST the right place. That's what I call paintin'."

"But don't you think, Captain Perez, that the waves in that picture
would be better if they weren't so all in a row, like a picket fence?"

"Well, now, that ain't it. That's a picture of the A1 two-masted
schooner Flyin' Duck, and the waves is only thrown in, as you might say.
The reel thing is the schooner, rigged jest right, trimmed jest right,
and colored jest the way the Flyin' Duck was colored. You understand
them waves was put there jest 'cause there had to be some to set the
schooner in, that's all."

"But you needn't feel bad, Elsie," said Captain Jerry soothingly.
"'Tain't to be expected that you could paint vessels like Eben Lothrop
can. Eben he used to work in a shipyard up to East Boston once, and when
he was there he had to paint schooners and things, reely put the paint
onto 'em I mean, so, of course, when it come to paintin' pictures of
'em, why--"

And Captain Jerry waved his hand.

So, as there was no answer to an argument like this, Miss Preston gave
up marine painting for the time and began a water-color of the house and
its inmates. This was an elaborate affair, and as the captains insisted
that each member of the family, Daniel and Lorenzo included, should
pose, it seemed unlikely to be finished for some months, at least.

Ralph Hazeltine called on the afternoon following Elsie's arrival, and
Captain Eri insisted on his staying to tea. It might have been noticed