Oh, Rankin was certainly a wonder! There was a gay-colored smoking-jacket and cap that one of the boys took a fancy to and insisted on wearing, but I drew the line at that.

We nearly had a fight over it, right there.
When we were dressed--and I had to valet the whole lot of them, except Frosty, who seemed wise to polite apparel--we were certainly a bunch of winners.

Modesty forbids explaining just how _I_ appear in a dress suit.
I will only say that my tailor knew his business--but the others were fearful and wonderful to look upon.

To begin with, not all of them stand six-feet-one in their stocking-feet, or tip the scales at a hundred and eighty odd; likewise their shoulders lacked the breadth that goes with the other measurements.

Hence my tailor would doubtless have wept at the sight; shoulders drooping spiritlessly, and sleeves turned up, and trousers likewise.