"That ain't of no account to you!"
He watched her for a second between half-closed lids. A cunning smile spread itself over his thick lips. He walked to the door and threw it wide open.
"You can go—if you likes;—you can go—now!"
Her hand went to her heart. The scant color in her face left it. She took one hesitating step forward and then she stood quite still.
"If you lets the dog go—I stays."
Her words sounded muffled.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"The dog's my dog. I ain't able to see where he comes in on all this."
"You can't see nothing;—you don't want to see! It's knowing too well what that pup's up against that makes me want you to let him go. It's that I don't want to have the heart took out of him;—the way you took the heart out of me,—that makes me want to have him set free."
He gave a noiseless chuckle.