Part 36 (1/2)
”Well?” queried Mittachip.
”Oi'm thinking, sir...”
”What?”
”How can Oi go on your errand when Oi've got to guard this 'ere sheep for you?”
”Oh, d.a.m.n the sheep!” quoth Master Mittachip, emphatically.
”Well, sir! if you be satisfied...”
”You know my house at Wirksworth?”
”Aye, aye, sir.”
”I'll give you a packet. You are to take it to Wirksworth now at once, and to give it to my clerk, Master Duffy, at my house in Fulsome Street.
You are quite sure you understand?”
”I dunno as I do!” quoth Jock, vaguely.
But with an impatient oath Sir Humphrey turned into the hut: matters were progressing much too slowly for his impatient temperament. He pushed Mittachip aside, and said peremptorily,-
”Look here, shepherd, you want to earn a guinea, don't you?”
”Aye, sir, that I do.”
”Well, here's the packet, and here's a letter for Master Duffy at Master Mittachip's house in Fulsome Street. When Master Duffy has the packet and reads the letter he will give you a guinea. Is that clear?”
And he handed the packet of letters, and also a small note, to Jock Miggs, who seemed to have done with hesitation, for he took them with alacrity.
”Oh! aye! that's clear enough,” he said, ”'tis writ in this paper that I'm to get the guinea?”
”In Master Mittachip's own hand. But mind! no gossiping, and no loitering. You must get to Wirksworth before c.o.c.k-crow.”
Jock Miggs slipped the packet and the note into the pocket of his smock.
The matter of the guinea having been satisfactorily explained to him, he was quite ready to start.
”Noa, for sure!” he said, patting the papers affectionately. ”Mum's the word! I'll do your bidding, sir, and the papers'll be safe with me, seeing it's writ on them that I'm to get a guinea.”
”Exactly. So you mustn't lose them, you know.”
”Noa! noa! I bain't afeeard o' that, nor of the highwaymen; and Beau Brocade wouldn't touch the loikes o' me, bless 'im. But Lordy! Lordy!
these be 'mazing times.”
Already Sir Humphrey was pus.h.i.+ng him impatiently out of the hut.
”And here,” added his Honour, pressing a piece of money into the shepherd's hand, ”here's half-a-crown to keep you on the go.”