"As much as you do want, surely. I'd gie more'n a little to scrimp them there engines of iniquity."
"And perhaps you could help me with something else," said Templeton. "I want a sort of metal box; any old thing would do, something that's no good for anything else."
"I can find 'ee summat, I b'lieve. There be an old tank in the shed behind the dairy, where I keep th' old tricycle."
"A tricycle!" exclaimed Eves. "What about that for number four, Bob?"
"The very thing! Will you lend it or sell it, Mr. Trenchard?"
"I'll take no money from a young gent as is inventing for his country, danged if I will. 'Tis a old ancient thing that I bought five-and-twenty year ago for me and the missus."
"A sociable!" cried Eves. "We are in luck's way."
"'Tis called such, I b'lieve," said the farmer. "Ay, 'tis many a year since the missus and me went gallivanting about the country. She were a nesh young maid then, so to speak it; you wouldn't think it to see the size she've growed to. I've kep' th' old thing for the sake o' them gay young days."
"If you can spare us this afternoon, I'd like to experiment with it," said Templeton.
"Surely, and welcome, and I hope 'twill serve 'ee."