“Guineas!” cried the farmer.
“Twenty-two guineas!” repeated the auctioneer. “A beautiful maiden heifer—never had a calf. Going——”
But this time Jinny was really gone. She would not even risk waiting outside to hear the result, but in generous gratitude at her escape, she hoped he would at least secure the maiden heifer.
VI
The sight of Will still at his post suggested to her with a little qualm that he was not so wrong: these male environments were not without their drawbacks.
“Those horses seem to fascinate you,” she said, with a little tremor in her voice. Whether Will or the violence just done to her was the cause of it, she did not quite know. But her mood was melting and her eye the brighter for a soft moisture.
But how was Will to follow her vagaries and adventures?
“That’s my business,” he answered gruffly.
“I thought it was mine,” she laughed. She was quite prepared now to make it a joint affair.
“You know my opinion on that,” he said icily.