However, perhaps it is time for you to have another suit." Joe listened in astonishment.

Was it possible that Major Norton was going to open his heart and give him what he had long secretly desired?
Our hero's delusion was soon dissipated.
Major Norton rose from his seat, and took from a chair near-by a stained suit, which had not yet attracted Joe's attention.
"Here is a suit of Oscar's," he said, "which is quite whole and almost new.

Oscar only wore it a month.

It cost me thirty-four dollars!" said the major impressively.
He held it up, and Joe recognized it at once.
"Isn't it the suit Oscar got stained ?" he asked abruptly.
"Ahem! Yes; it is a little stained, but that doesn't injure the texture of the cloth." As he held it up the entire suit seemed to have been sprinkled with acid, which had changed the color in large, patches in different parts.

The wearer would be pretty sure to excite an unpleasant degree of attention.
Joe did not appear to be overwhelmed with the magnificence of the gift.
"If it is so good, why don't Oscar wear it ?" he asked.
Major Norton regarded Joe with displeasure.
"It cannot matter to you how Oscar chooses to dress," he said.