“Don't interrupt him, Goggins,” said Mister Wiggins.
“How can you listen to such nonsense?” returned Goggins. “Swear examinations against a cat, indeed! pooh! pooh!”
“My dear sir,” said Murtough, “remember this is a fair story, and that the country all around here is full of enchantment. As I was telling you, Tom went off to swear examinations.”
“Ay, ay!” shouted all but Goggins; “go on with the story.”
“And when Tom was asked to relate the events of the morning, which brought him before Squire Botherum, his brain was so bewildered between his corn, and his cat, and his child's toe, that he made a very confused account of it.
“'Begin your story from the beginning,' said the magistrate to Tom.
“'Well, your honour,' says Tom, 'I was goin' to market this mornin', to sell the child's corn—I beg your pard'n—my own toes, I mane, sir.'
“'Sell your toes!' said the Squire.
“'No, sir, takin' the cat to market, I mane—'
“'Take a cat to market!' said the Squire. 'You're drunk, man.'