"Sure as death and the taxman," sneered Thurstan.
"Then there's a boat sailing for Dublin at high water, and I'll give five and thirty pounds apiece to every man of you that likes to go home with her."
At that there was an uneasy scraping of five pairs of feet, and much hum-ing and ha-ing and snuffling.
"Quick, which of you is it to be? Speak out, and don't all speak at once," said Jacob.
Then Asher, with a look of outraged reason, said, "What! and all our time go for nothing, and the land lying fallow for months, and the winter cabbage not down, and the men's wages going on?"
"You won't take it?" said Jacob.
"A paltry five and thirty, why, no," said Asher.
"Then let's have no more of your badgering," said Jacob.
"But, Jacob, tell us where's our account in all this jeel with the girl and the Governor," said Gentleman John.
"Find it out," said Jacob, with a flip of finger and thumb, as he strode on again before his brothers.