'Red it was,' said the butcher, in his good-humoured husky
treble- 'and a Durham it was.'
'Then you needn't tell me who you bought it of,' said the
farrier, looking round with some triumph; 'I know who it is has got
the red Durhams o' this country-side. And she'd a white star on her
brow, I'll bet a penny?' The farrier leaned forward with his hands
on his knees as he put this question, and his eyes twinkled knowingly.
'Well; yes- she might,' said the butcher, slowly, considering
that he was giving a decided affirmative. 'I don't say contrairy.'
'I knew that very well,' said the farrier, throwing himself
backward again, and speaking defiantly; 'if I don't know Mr Lammeter's
cows, I should like to know who does- that's all. And as for the cow
you've bought, bargain or no bargain, I've been at the drenching of
her- contradick me who will.'
The farrier looked fierce, and the mild butcher's conversational
spirit was roused a little.
'I'm not for contradicking no man,' he said; 'I'm for peace and
quietness. Some are for cutting long ribs- I'm for cutting 'em
short, myself; but I don't quarrel with 'em. All I say is, it's a
lovely carkiss- and anybody as was reasonable, it 'ud bring tears into
their eyes to look at it.'
'Well, it's the cow as I drenched, whatever it is,' pursued the
farrier, angrily; 'and it was Mr Lammeter's cow, else you told a lie
when you said it was a red Durham.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75