Tod had been silent under all circumstances.
Dorothy continued: "Madge and I will drive in the coach to one or two of the shops, and we shall return in one hour. Meantime, Cousin Stanley, we wish you to have a fine dinner prepared for us, and we promise to do ample justice to the fare."
"She'll never come back," said silent Tod, without moving a muscle.
"How about it, cousin?" asked Stanley. "Tod says you'll never come back; he means that you are trying to give us the slip."
"Never fear, Cousin Stanley," she returned, "I am too eager for dinner not to come back. If you fail to have a well-loaded table for me, I shall never speak to you again."
We then went to the coach, and as the ladies entered it Dorothy said aloud to Dawson:—
"Drive to Conn's shop."
I heard Tod say to his worthy master:—
"She's a slippin' ye."
"You're a fool, Tod. Don't you see she wants me more than she wants the dinner, and she's hungry, too."