Richard had not the slightest intention of ever letting his father into his counsels.
"A good three hundred pounds, ye know?" the farmer suggested.
No consideration of the extent of damages, and the size of the sum, affected young Richard, who said boldly, "He will not object when I tell him I want that sum."
It was natural Farmer Blaize should be a trifle suspicious that a youth's guarantee would hardly be given for his father's readiness to disburse such a thumping bill, unless he had previously received his father's sanction and authority.
"Hum!" said he, "why not 'a told him before?"
The farmer threw an objectionable shrewdness into his query, that caused Richard to compress his mouth and glance high.
Farmer Blaize was positive 'twas a lie.
"Hum! Ye still hold to't you fired the rick?" he asked.
"The blame is mine!" quoth Richard, with the loftiness of a patriot of old Rome.
"Na, na!" the straightforward Briton put him aside. "Ye did't, or ye didn't do't. Did ye do't, or no?"