A BARGAIN 26

grunted cut in a rather rough voice: ‘I’ve
told as much as I ever tell for nothing.
Who is going to pay me if I tell more?’
The nurse, who had been listening with
great attention to the conversation between
the boy and the hedgehog, and felt rather
slighted because it was to little Hurly-Burly
instead of to her that the animal spoke, now
broke in hastily, as if determined not to be
left out of the business altogether. ‘ Never
you fear, Mr. Hedgepig,’ she cried—‘ never
you fear but what -you’ll get paid right
enough for anything you do for the young
Prince. *Twas milk the old crow said you
liked, and there’s a matter of twenty cows
or more up at the Palace, and their Majesties
will be ready enough to drown you in milk,
if you wish it, if you only get back the
blessed children as they was before that
wretched old creature meddled with them.’
At these words the eyes of the hedgehog
glistened with pleasure, but, nevertheless,
he turned up his snout in contempt and
disgust at the woman’s interference and at
her again calling him by the name he dis-
liked. He gave a low grunt as he turned
again to the boy and said: ‘ Milk is what I