"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 cock-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 pushing 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."
"Thank 'ee, sir, and if you think t' sheep will be all right..."
"Oh, hang the sheep!..."