Agnes told then of her ride into the hills, the meeting with the herder, and subsequent events up to the shooting. But she said nothing of Boyle’s base proposal to her, although her face burned at the recollection, giving Slavens more than half a guess what was behind that virtuous flame. 263
“And so, you poor little soul, all your plans for your City of Refuge are shattered because you refuse to sacrifice somebody to keep them whole,” said he.
“No matter,” she returned in that voice of abnegation which only a long marching line of misfortunes can give a woman or a man command over. “I have decided, anyway, to give it up. It’s too big and rough and lonesome for me.”
“And that person whom you put up your heart and soul to shield,” he went on, looking steadily into her face and pursuing his former thought, “has something in his possession which this man Boyle covets and thinks he must have? And the cheapest and easiest way to get it is to make you pay for it in the violation of your honest principles, if he can drive you to it in his skulking way?”
She bowed assent, her lips tightly set.
“Yes,” said he. “Just so. Well, why didn’t Boyle come to me with his threats, the coward!”
“No, no!” she cried in quick fright. “Not that; it is something–something else.”
“You poor dissembler!” he laughed. “You couldn’t be dishonest if you wanted to the worst way in the world. Well, don’t you worry; I’ll take it up with him today.”
“You’ll not give it up!” she exclaimed vehemently. “All your hopes are there, and it’s yours, and you’ll not give it up!”
“Never mind,” he soothed, again taking her hand, 264 which she had withdrawn to aid in emphasizing her protest. “I don’t believe he’d carry out his threats about the United States marshal and all that.”