Part 14 (1/2)
”Augh--baugh! you would not pay Joe Webster all he asks! What's the use of being a man of the world, unless one makes one's tradesmen bate a bit? Bargaining is not cheating, I hope?”
”G.o.d forbid!” said Peter.
”But as to the bit string, Jacobina took it solely for your sake. Ah, she did not think you were to turn against her!”
So saying, the Corporal, got up, walked into his house, and presently came back with a little net in his hand.
”There, Peter, net for you, to hold lemons. Thank Jacobina for that; she got the string. Says I to her one day, as I was sitting, as I might be now, without the door, 'Jacobina, Peter Dealtry's a good fellow, and he keeps his lemons in a bag: bad habit,--get mouldy,--we'll make him a net: and Jacobina purred, (stroke the poor creature, Peter!)--so Jacobina and I took a walk, and when we came to Joe Webster's I pointed out the ball o'twine to her. So, for your sake, Peter, she got into this here sc.r.a.pe--augh.”
”Ah!” quoth Peter laughing, ”poor Puss! poor p.u.s.s.y! poor little p.u.s.s.y!”
”And now, Peter,” said the Corporal, taking his friend's hand, ”I am going to prove friends.h.i.+p to you--going to do you great favour.”
”Aha!” said Peter, ”my good friend, I'm very much obliged to you. I know your kind heart, but I really don't want any”--
”Bother!” cried the Corporal, ”I'm not the man as makes much of doing a friend a kindness. Hold jaw! tell you what,--tell you what: am going away on Wednesday at day-break, and in my absence you shall--”
”What? my good Corporal.”
”Take charge of Jacobina!”
”Take charge of the devil!” cried Peter.
”Augh!--baugh!--what words are those? Listen to me.”
”I won't!”
”You shall!”
”I'll be d--d if I do!” quoth Peter st.u.r.dily. It was the first time he had been known to swear since he was parish clerk.
”Very well, very well!” said the Corporal chucking up his chin, ”Jacobina can take care of herself! Jacobina knows her friends and her foes as well as her master! Jacobina never injures her friends, never forgives foes. Look to yourself! look to yourself! insult my cat, insult me! Swear at Jacobina, indeed!”
”If she steals my cream!” cried Peter--
”Did she ever steal your cream?”
”No! but, if--”
”Did she ever steal your cream?”
”I can't say she ever did.”
”Or any thing else of yours?”
”Not that I know of; but--”
”Never too late to mend.”
”If--”