an' I'm here
as a friend, to give a fresh order. But,' says he, 'as between friends
I'm goin' to see it weighed out.' 'Right again!' says I--'how much?'
'Twelve sacks will meet my requirements for the present,' says he; 'but
I'd like 'em full this time, if you don't mind.' I'm givin' you the
exact words as they occurred. 'Very well,' says I, 'you shall see 'em
weighed an' put into the cart for ye, here an' now.' So I ordered Bill
round wi' the cart; an' George, here, I told to pick out twelve o' the
best sacks, lay 'em in a row 'long-side o' me, an' start weighin' very
careful. When the scales turned the hundred-weight, I said, 'Now put in
two great lumps for overplush and sack it up.' So he did, an' Bill took
the bag out to the cart. 'Now for the next,' says I. Philp's a greedy
fellow: he stuck there lookin' so hard at the weighin'-scoop, wonderin'
how much overplush he'd get this go, he didn' see me twitch the tailmost
sack out o' the line wi' th' end o' my crutch, nor Bill pick it up
casual as he came along an' toss it away into the corner. When George
had weighed out the eleven, I says to Philp, 'Well, now, I hope you're
satisfied this time?' says I. He turns about, sees that all the sacks
have gone, an' says he, 'That's the end, is it?' 'You're a treat, an'
no mistake,' says I jokin'. 'We don't sell by the baker's dozen at this
store:' for I could see he hadn' counted. 'Well,' says he, 'I must say
there's no cause o' complaint this time,' and off drives Bill wi' the
load. 'No cause o' complaint'!" Mr Rogers chuckled till the tears
gathered in his eyes. He controlled his mirth and resumed, "I believe,
though, the poor fool suspected something; for he was back at home
before Bill had time to deliver more'n four sacks. But Bill, you see,
always carries an empty sack or two to sit upon; so there was no
countin' to be done at that end, d'ye see?"

"I see," said Cai gravely. It crossed his mind that he had been
over-hasty in rebuking Mrs Bowldler.

"I wonder," put in the child Fancy, "how you can sit there an' tell such
a story! That's just the sort o' thing people get put in hell for, as
I've warned you again and again. It fairly gives me the creeps to hear
you boastin' about it."

"Nothin' o' the sort," said her master cheerfully. He could not resent
her free speaking, for she was necessary to him. Besides, it amused
him. "You leave old Satan and Johnny Rogers to settle scores between
themselv