“I don’ know,” replied the woman, hesitatingly. “I don’ know jest what it is worth.”
“It’s been worth a good deal to us,” said Jock, feeling in his pocket for a coin as he spoke. “We want to pay you whatever you say.”
“I don’ know jest what it is worth,” repeated the woman. “Do ye think five cents would be too much?”
“Hardly,” laughed Jock, as he handed the hostess a quarter.
“I don’t think I’ve got any change,” said the woman, reluctantly.
“Change? There isn’t any change.”
“Do ye mean to say ye’re goin’ to give me all this money for that milk?”
“Why, yes. It was good milk, and we haven’t been modest in using it.”
“It’s too much to charge!” she said decidedly. “I can’t take so much.”
Perceiving that she was in earnest, Jock did not press the matter, and finally compromised by inducing her to accept fifteen cents. Then as he hastened to rejoin his companions, who now were waiting for him in the yard, and perceiving that the muscallonge had not yet been shown them, he said, eagerly,—