"First," said I, "do you believe it was forty shillings yes or no?"
The farmer twisted his whisker, and stared very hard at the spout
of the pump.
"Tell 'ee what," said he at length, "mak' it thirty, an' I give
ye my Bible oath to do the best wi' it I can."
"Then I must needs seek my breakfast at the nearest inn," said I.
"An' that is the 'Old Cock,' a mile an' a half nearer Tonbridge."
"Then the sooner I start the better," said I, "for I'm mightily
sharp set."
"Why, as to that," said he, busy with his whisker again, "I might
stretch a pint or two an' call it--thirty-five, at a pinch--what
d'ye say?"
"Why, I say 'good morning,' and many of them!" And, opening the
gate, I started off down the road at a brisk pace. Now, as I
went, it began to rain.