'I bet you she'd be frightened of old Nance,' said Justin, with some contempt, 'she'd think her a witch; girls are always so fanciful.'
'You can't know much about girls,' said Pat. 'I'm sure Miss Mouse isn't silly. If she did think Nance a witch she'd like her all the better. You heard what she said about fairy stories.'
'Fairy rubbish,' said Justin. 'I believe you were meant to be a girl yourself, Pat.'
Pat reddened, but, wonderful to say, did not lose his temper, and before Justin had time to aggravate him still more, there came an interruption in the shape of a boy who suddenly appeared a few paces off, as if he had sprung up out of the earth. He had, in fact, been lying at full length among the heather.
'Master Justin!' he exclaimed. 'I heard you coming along and I've been waiting for you. I were going home from Maxter's,' and he nodded his head backwards, as if to point out the direction whence he had come.
'Well,' said Justin, 'and what about it?'
'I axed about them there ferrets as I was telling you about t'other day,' said the boy.
Justin threw a doubtful glance over his shoulder at his brothers. Bob, for Bob Crag it was, caught it at once.
'It was just when we was talking about what they cost,' he said carelessly, 'I thought maybe you'd like to know.'
'Tom Brick has sold his, did you know that?' said Pat, by way of showing interest in the subject.