"And make me want all the more to be out," said the old farmer, doing his best to assume a pleasant manner. But his thoughts, ever since Elspeth landed him in that chair, had been of such la disagreeable nature, that he found it quite impossible, all in a minute, to shake the growl out of his tone.
"I'm glad my legs don't prevent me getting out," said Hal, contemplating the bandaged limb with compassion, as he seated himself opposite, and lodged his crutches against his chair.
"You're not of a gouty age yet, young master," returned Farmer Bluff. "It'd be sorry work to have it at your time of life."
"It isn't everybody has it when they're old," said Hal. "My grandfather doesn't. I don't think I shall."
"Maybe not," returned Farmer Bluff. "'One thing at a time' is the saying. You've got your share in the way of legs."
"But I mean," explained Hal, determined to make this the thin end of his wedge; "I mean that I shall take care not to have it."
Bluff laughed—a cynical sort of laugh.
"You'll have to take pretty much what comes," croaked he.
"But some things don't come," said Hal.
"You don't send for 'em," returned the bailiff, with another laugh. "That's very certain; not such things as gout."