"No, I couldn't hardly do that," he said more gently.

"He's too valuable.

My little sister just worships him." The other guests were bored at this hint of commerce.

They had no wish to see good money spent for a dog that no one could eat.
"He don't look to me like so much of a dog," remarked one of these.

"He looks silly to me." The owner stared at the speaker unpleasantly.
"Oh, he does, does he?
I guess that shows what you know about dogs.