“What are you keeping that cursed dog there for?” he said, catching sight, as he turned, of Cosmo, who held Covenant by the back of the neck.
“I am only waiting till your lordship’s mastiff is out of the way,” answered Cosmo.
“That you may set him at me again, as that old hag of yours did this morning!” As he spoke they had neared the kitchen-door, open as usual, and Grizzie heard what he said.
“That’s as big a lee as ever your lordship h’ard tell i’ the coort,” she cried. “It’s the natur o’ dougs to tak scunners. They see far ben. Fess the beast in here, Cosmo; I s’ be answerable for ’im. The puir animal canna bide my lord.”
“Hoot, hoot, Grizzie,” began the laird anew, with displeasure in his tone, but already the dog was in, and the kitchen-door closed.
“Leave her alone, Mr. Warlock, if you don’t want to have the worst of it,” said his lordship, trying to laugh. “But seriously, laird,” he went on, “it is not neighbourly to treat me like this. Oblige me by giving orders to your people not to trespass on my property. I have paid my money for it, and must be allowed to do with it as I please.”
“My lord,” returned the laird, “I have not given, and will not give you the smallest annoyance in my own person.—I hope yet to possess the earth,” he interjected, half unconsciously, to himself, but aloud. “But—”
“Hey! hey!” said his lordship, thinking the man was sending his reason after his property.
“But,” continued the laird, “I cannot interfere with the rights of my neighbours. If Grizzie says she has a right of way—and I think very probably she knows what she is about—I have no business to interfere.”
“Confound your cant!” cried his lordship. “You care no more for your neighbours than I do. You only want to make yourself unpleasant to me. Show me the way out, and be damned.”