“And the better for us,” laughed Jack, who was pining for an excuse to come to stronger measures.
But at this point Tubbs saw fit to make an offer.
“Suppose I said ten shillings?” he enquired.
Blank dismay, accompanied by a great silence, fell upon the group, but barely for a minute. Then Jack came forward.
“You’re trying to swindle us, you know you are,” he said, “we won’t give you anything like that.”
“Well, we’ll say nine shillings and elevenpence.”
“We’ll give you the elevenpence without the shillings,” said Phil.
“And if you don’t take care you won’t get that,” added Andrew.
Phoena, whose desire to aid anything in the form of distressed animal life made her bold beyond her wont, added, “You ought really to be ashamed of yourself to want to be paid at all.”
“Shut up, Phoena,” said Jack, “when girls put their oar in they spoil everything. Now listen, Mr. Jonas Tubbs,” he continued, “we’ll give you half-a-crown, neither more nor less, for that thrush, and if you don’t accept our offer you’ll repent it.”