“Well—no,” said Dick, hesitating. “I was—er—thinking of doing a little shooting.”
“What at fend o’ June! Nay, nay, theer’s no shooting now.”
“Not regular shooting, but I thought I might get something curious, perhaps, right away yonder.”
“Ay, ay, perhaps so.”
“Might see a big pike basking, and shoot that.”
“Like enough, my lad, like enough. Squire going to lend you a goon?”
Dick shook his head, but the wheelwright was busy taking a shaving off a piece of wood, so did not see it, and repeated his question.
“No, Hicky, I want you to lend me one of those new ones.”
“What, as squire and Mr Marston left for me and Jacob! Nay, nay, lad, that wean’t do.”
“Oh, yes, it will, Hicky. I’ll take great care of it, and clean it when I’ve done. Lend me the gun, there’s a good fellow.”