'I couldn't say just exactly,' said Bob, 'but I can easy find out, and I'd do my best to make a good bargain for you. Five to ten shillin' a couple, any price between those they might be,' he went on, 'and if you really fancied them—why, I daresay granny'd let me keep them for you, and when there come a holiday I could fetch 'em to wherever you like.'
'There's the old out-houses that papa thought of pulling down,' said Justin. 'They're a nest of rats, I know, and we might be there a whole afternoon without any one finding out, or we might use them for rabbiting sometimes.'
Bob's face grew rather serious.
'That's not as good fun,' he said quickly. To tell the truth he had a very soft corner in his heart for the poor little bunnies, with their turned-up, tufty white tails, scampering about in their innocent happiness. 'Rats is best, and a good riddance.'
'Five to ten shillings a couple,' repeated Justin. 'I have only got two, if that. What are you good for, Archie?'
'Precious little,' the younger boy replied. 'And I don't know that I care about——'
'You are a muff,' said Justin crossly, 'a muff and a turncoat. You were hotter upon ferreting than I was.'
'I'd be hot upon it still,' said Archie, 'if we could do it properly, with Griffith at home. But I don't think it worth spending all our money upon when very likely we wouldn't be allowed to keep them.'
'We could keep them at Bob's place,' said Justin. 'But as we haven't got the money there's no more to be said, I suppose.'
'I've got some money,' said Pat. 'Why don't you ask me to join, Justin?'