“Well, the cat, seeing there was no use in argument, got into the bag, and off Tom set to the cross roads with the bag over his shoulder, and he came up, quite innocent-like, to the corner, where the Squire, and his huntsman, and the hounds, and a pack o' people were waitin'. Out came the Squire on a sudden, just as if it was all by accident.
“'God save you, Tom,' says he.
“'God save you kindly, sir,' says Tom.
“'What's that bag you have at your back?' says the Squire.
“'Oh, nothin' at all, sir,' says Tom—makin' a face all the time, as much as to say, I have her safe.
“'Oh, there's something in that bag, I think,' says the Squire; 'and you must let me see it.'
“'If you bethray me, Tom Connor,' says the cat in a low voice, 'by this and that I'll never spake to you again!'
“'Pon my honour, sir,' said Tom, with a wink and a twitch of his thumb towards the bag, 'I haven't anything in it.'
“'I have been missing my praties of late,' says the Squire; 'and I'd just like to examine that bag,' says he.
“'Is it doubting my charackther you'd be, sir?' says Tom, pretending to be in a passion.