Violet Jacob > Stories told by the miller

THE STORY OF FARMYARD MAGGIE 159
do not know what is good for them,” said he.
“ Get into the carriage immediately. The foot¬
men will help you in, and you may sit opposite
to me.”
And before you could count ten they had
sprung from their places, opened the door, and
lifted her in. With a hoarse agonized screech
the Cochin-Chinaman leaped up and flew heavily
into the coach. He came through the air like
a cannon-ball.
“ Really, this is too much!” exclaimed the
Bishop. “ I cannot be made ridiculous by
having this creature sitting in front of me as we
go through the streets.”
“ He is the only friend I have got left,”
sobbed poor Maggie, bursting into tears as
the footmen tried to seize the cock’s legs.
The Bishop was far from being an unkind
man ; indeed, he had a great reputation for
charity, both public and private.
“Tut, tut!” he said ; “let him come. But he
can’t sit there opposite to me. Put him under
the seat.”
And so Maggie, thankful to keep him at
any price, stuffed him underneath, and pressed
her feet against him, to comfort him. The