"I know more about tobogganing and oughtn't to have been deceived. It hurts to feel I didn't take proper care of you."
"It really doesn't matter," Grace replied with a smile, and Thorn gave her a steady look.
"Oh, but it does matter! You ought to see that!"
"I don't see it," Grace insisted quietly, although her heart beat. "You were not accountable, and we got down quite safe. Let's talk about something else."
Thorn's eyes rested on her for another moment, and then he made a sign of acquiescence and they went back up the hill. At the top he marked a new line for the next day's sport, and then as the sun was getting low the party started home by the old stone-boat road. Near the bottom they overtook the Askews, and one or two others walking at their horses' heads as they cautiously descended a steep pitch. Grace noted that although they were not bringing much peat there was a risk of the sledges running down upon the teams.
"You have not got on very fast," she said to Peter.
"If we're no verra careful, we'll gan faster than we like."
"I suppose that's why you're only taking half a load?"
"Just that," Peter agreed. "It wadn't suit for load to run ower the team.
Better safe than sorry, though it's a terrible loss o' time."
"Then, why don't you look for an easier way down?"