He found Harry measuring with his foot rule a box for one of his finest paintings.

It had to be precisely of the size Harry had decided on and he was as bent on this result as if it was a matter of great importance.
"You see, John," he said, "it is a very hard thing to make the box fit the picture.

It is really a difficult thing to do." John smiled and then asked, "Why should you do it, Harry?
It would be so easy _not_ to do it, or to have a man who makes a business of the work do it for you." And Harry shook his head and began the measurement of box and picture over again.
"The little chappies are asleep, John, I wouldn't disturb them.

Lucy is in the nursery.

You had better tell her anything that ought to be done.
I shall be sure to forget with these measurements to carry in my head." "Put them on paper, Harry." "The paper might get lost." And John smiled and answered, "So it might." So John went to the nursery and first of all to the boys' bed.