"That's it, sir; you've got un."

"I suppose an apology and a return of the pig would not be enough."

"I'll make un know he beant everybody," said Bumpkin.

"Quite so; now what shall we lay the damages at?"

"Wull, sir, as for that, I doant rightly know; if so be he'd pay down,
that's one thing, but it's my bleef as you might jist as wull try to dror
blood out of a stoane as git thic feller to do what's right."

"Shall we say a hundred pounds and costs?"

Never did man look more astonished than Bumpkin. A hundred pounds! What
a capital thing going to law must be! But, as the reader knows, he was a
remarkably discreet man, and never in the course of his dealing committed
himself till the final moment. Whenever anybody made him a "bid," he
invariably met the offer with one form of refusal. "Nay, nay; it beant
good enough: I bin offered moore." And this had answered so well, that
it came natural to Bumpkin to refuse on all occasions the first offer.
It was not to be wondered at then that the question should be regarded in
the light of an offer from Snooks himself. Now he could hardly say "I
bin _bid moore_ money," because the case wasn't in the market; but he
could and did say the next best thing to it, namely:--

"I wunt let un goo for that--'t be wuth moore!"

"Very well," observed Prigg; "so long as we know: we can lay our damages
at what we please."

Now there was great consolation in that. The plaintiff paused and rubbed
his chin. "What do thee think, sir?"

"I think if he pays something handsome, and gives us an apology, and pays
the costs, I should advise you to take it."

"As you please, sir; I leaves it to you; I beant a hard man, I hope."

"Very good; we will see what can be done. I shall bring this action in
the Chancery Division."

"Hem! I've eerd tell, sir, that if ever a case gets into that ere Coourt
he niver comes out agin."

"O, that's all nonsense; there used to be a good deal of truth in that;
but the procedure is now so altered that you can do pretty much what you
like: this is an age of despatch; you bring your action, and your writ is
almost like a cheque payable on demand!"

"Wull, I beant no lawyer, never had nothing to do wi un in my life; but I
should like to axe, sir, why thee'll bring this ere case in Chancery?"

"Good; well, come now, I like to be frank; we shall get more costs?"

Mr. Bumpkin again rubbed his chin. "And do I get em?" he asked.

"Well, they go tow