Tess gave a negative gesture.
"Er no one else?"
"Nope!"
"Ye be a pert girl, Tessibel, and I were a cuss for trying to scare ye—but the brindle bull has got to die."
"Nope, he ain't got to die," frowned Tess.
"When I gets up he eats what I gives him," assured Ben. "He has to die, I says, I does.... But ye be a pert gal, Tess."
Ben moved his head to bring the girl within the vision of his one eye.
"What be ye wantin' with me?" Tess muttered. "I wants to go home."
She saw another tear roll down the plastered cheek, and repeated her operation with the rag.
"What do ye want?" she demanded again.