"Oh, Duke! If you knew how much it means to me," she said.
"Why don't you tell me, Grace?"
"Even if you stayed back there on the hills somewhere and watched them you wouldn't do it, Duke?" she appealed, evading his request.
He shook his head slowly, while the thoughts within it ran like wildfire, seeking the thing that she covered.
"It can't be done."
"I give you my word, Duke, that if you'll do it nobody will ever lift a hand against this ranch again."
"It's almost worth it," said he.
She quickened at this, enlarging her guarantee.
"We'll drop all of the old feud and let Vesta alone. I give you my word for all of them, and I'll see that they carry it out. You can do Vesta as big a favor as you'll be doing me, Duke."
"It couldn't be done without her consent, Grace. If you want to go to her with this same proposal, putting it plainly like you have to me, I think she'll let you have the cattle, if you can show her any good reason for it."