And all the while he tried not to lose one word of the conversation between Mittachip and the shepherd.
"That's true, Jock," the attorney was saying. "Well! then if you'll go to Wirksworth for me, now, at once, there'll be a guinea for you."
"A guinea!" came in bewildered accents from the worthy shepherd, "Lordy! Lordy! but these be 'mazing times!"
"All I want you to do, Jock, is to take a packet for me to my house in Fulsome Street. You understand?"
But here there was a pause. Miggs was evidently hesitating.
"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, damn the sheep!" quoth Master Mittachip, emphatically.