“Mr. Leslie never gave me any particular instructions on your account,” said Lucas smiling; “nor do I suppose that his intentions regarding you are different from those respecting other tenants.”
“I saved his life, then!” said Owen; and his eyes flashed with indignation as he spoke.
“And you saved a devilish good fellow, I can tell you,” said the Major, smiling complacently, as though to hint that the act was a very sufficient reward for its own performance.
“The sorra much chance he had of coming to the property that day, anyhow, till I came up,” said Owen, in a half soliloquy.
“What! were the savages about to scalp him? Eh!” asked the Major.
Owen turned a scowl towards him that stopped the already-begun laugh; while Lucas, amazed at the peasant's effrontery, said, “You needn't wait any longer, my good fellow; I have nothing more to say.”
“I was going to ask yer honner, sir,” said Owen, civilly, “if I paid the last half-year—I have it with me—if ye'll let me stay in the place till ye'll ask Mr. Leslie—”
“But you forget, my friend, that a receipt for the last half-year is a receipt in full,” said Lucas, interrupting.