You are no better than a fool."
"Maybe I am a fool, Nosey. Just wait till I get a light, and I'll
leave your hut and trouble you no more."
He was standing in the middle of the floor cutting his tobacco, and
rubbing it between the palms of his hands, shaking his head, and
eyeing the floor with a look of great sagacity.
Nosey went outside, and began walking to and fro, thinking and
whispering to himself. It was a habit he had acquired while slowly
sauntering after his sheep. He seemed to have another self, an
invisible companion with whom he discussed whatever was uppermost in
his mind. If he had then consulted his other self, Julia, he might
have saved himself a world of trouble; but he did not think of her.
He said to himself: "Now, Nosey, if you don't mind, you are going to
be in a hole. That old fool inside has found out something or other
about the sheep, and the peelers will have you, if you don't look
out, and they'll give you another seven years and maybe ten. You've
done your time once, Nosey, and how would you like to do it again?
Why couldn't you leave the cursed sheep alone and keep out of
mischief just when you were settling down in life comfortable, and
might have a chance to do better. Baldy will be telling the peelers
to-morrow all he knows about the sheep you stole, and then they'll
fetch you, sure.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203