"Her be tedious this morning. Ses her be going quick, and I be to hurry after; but I tells she I b'ain't agoing to hurry." "Would you like to buy my giant tortoise? I'll sell him for five shillings," George continued. "What would I do wi' a tor-toys?" asked the Yellow Leaf with great deliberation. "It's a nice friendly animal," explained George. "Would he make gude eating?" asked the Yellow Leaf. "Might be a bit tough, but he'd make splendid soup," said George. "I ha' no craving vor gigantic tor-toyses, thankye. And if I did crave vor 'en, how be I to know he'm yours to sell?" "Of course it's mine. Everything belongs to me," said George sharply. "Then you have been told lies." "I ha' heard another tale." "I hears plenty o' they. Don't ye ever think o' driving that old toat of a tor-toys into my garden, vor if you does I'll kick 'en." And with these words the Yellow Leaf withdrew into his cottage, munching severely at his bread and jam. Bessie has been talking, thought George, as he went along the road, to pause beside a potato patch where Squinting Jack was whistling as he worked. He looked up and nodded, then went on digging, while George drew near and remarked: "I'm selling off the animals." "Sorry I b'ain't a butcher, sir," said Squinting Jack. "I've got a very good half Persian cat for sale at two shillings," George continued. "How much would ye charge vor the whole cat?" asked Squinting Jack. "I mean it's part Persian." "Which part?" asked the humourist. George laughed somewhat feebly, while Squinting Jack continued, "I've got a whole English cat what you can have vor nothing." By this time George had discovered he was not so well liked as formerly, and the reason was not far to seek: Kezia and Bessie were advertising their own triumph and trumpeting his misfortunes. George went a long walk, climbed a steep hill, and sat upon the summit, trying to work out a plan of campaign which might enable him to obtain the victory over all his enemies. "Why not shift the responsibility?" he muttered at length. "That's the plan right enough--shift it on to Percy. He wants to run the whole show--why not let him?" George meditated yet more deeply, rubbing his head which was nothing like so dense as his relations had supposed. "Percy means to do me, so it's my duty to do him. When you want to catch anything you set a trap. And now I've got it!" George shouted exultantly. "I'll tempt Percy with the furniture--I'll get him to buy it! Then I shall have the cash, while he can settle with Kezia and Bessie, and all the rest of the beastly, selfish, money grabbing crowd." CHAPTER IX A SUBTLE SINNER'S SUCCESS