Part 4 (1/2)
”Not about--about that--” he stammered
”Tchah! Yes It was about that, man,” said the other ”Don't shy at it like a horse at a blue bogey in a windy lane”
”But I told you, man, last tiling”
”Don't call things by ugly naood man, it is terrible It is dishonourable, and the act is a breaking of the laws of our country”
”Tchah! Not it, Sir Risdon,” cried the other so sharply, that the grey horse started forward, and had to be checked ”Not the king's laws, but the laws of that Dutchman who has coht to take a pleasure in breaking his laws, after the way he has robbed you, and turned you froentleman, into a poor, hard-pressed country squire, who--”
”Hush!+ Hush, Master Shackle!” said the tall gentleman huskily ”Don't rake up my misfortunes”
”Not I, Sir Risdon I'entle, hen he coht”
”Ah, Master Shackle, I' heart”
”Nay, don't do that, Sir Risdon; and as to a few h; and I'd often be sending a chicken or a few eggs, or a kit o' butter, or drop o' ht think it rude”
”It's--it's very good of you, Master Shackle, and I shall never be able to repay you”
”Tchah! Who wants repaying, Sir Risdon? We have plenty at the farm, and it was on'y day 'fore yes'day as I was out in er, and we'd took a lot o' mackrel! 'Ram,' I says to my boy Ramillies, 'think Sir Risdon would mind if I sent him a few fish up to the Hoze?'
”'Ay, father,' he says, 'they don't want us to send thehed, and the man watched him narrowly
”It's a pity too,” the latter continued, ”specially as we often have so much fish we puts it on the land”
”Er--if you would be good enough to send a little fish--of course very fresh, Master Shackle, and a few eggs, and a little butter to the Hoze, and let ratified”
”On'y too glad, Sir Risdon, I will--Think any one's been telling tales?”
”Tales?”
”'Bout us, Sir Risdon”
”About _us_!”
”You see the revenue cutter's hanging about here a deal, and it looks bad”
”Surely no one would betray you, Master Shackle?”
”Hope not, Sir Risdon; but it's okkard There's a three- over froht There's sos about now, and it's a quiet sea Your cellars are quite empty, I s'pose?”