“Oh, Hughie...!” says Heffernan, pretty stiff; “well, and what do you want here?”
“Och, nothing in life....”
“Take it, then, and let you be off about your business!” says Mickey, as quick as a flash, for once; and he that was proud when he had it said!
Hughie had a most notorious tongue himself, but he knew when to keep it quiet, and he thought it as good to appear very mild and down in himself now, so he said, “My business! sure, what word is that to say to a poor old fellah on chrutches! Not like you, Mr. Heffernan, that’ll be off to the fair of Balloch to-morrow morning, bright and early, with them grand fine calves of yours. The price they’ll go! There isn’t the peel of them in Ardenoo!”
“Do you tell me that?” says Heffernan, that a child could cheat.
“That’s what they do be telling me,” says Hughie. He could build a nest in your ear, he was that cunning. He thought he saw a chance of getting to the fair himself, and a night’s lodging as well, if he managed right.
“I wish to goodness I could get them there, so,” says Mickey, “and hasn’t one to drive them for me!”
“Would I do?” says Hughie.
Heffernan looked at him up and down.
“Sure you’d not be able!”