“There’s no law to make me carry aught save goods.” And she sang on carelessly:
“Should a humdrum husband say,
That at home I ought to stay——”
The little voice, rippling through those demure lips, wellnigh stung him to close her mouth with the masterful gag of kisses, but a remnant of sanity warned him not to spoil a fine animal practice by a scandal. Besides Jinny had her whip, and what was still more formidable, her horn.
“I’ll be even with you for this!” And jumping down, he strode off furiously.
“Hullo! Mr. Skindle! Hullo!”
“Keep away from me!” It was at once an appeal and a warning.
“Don’t you want your case of instruments? Not that you’ll be in time to kill those poor horses to-night.”
With an unsmothered oath he turned back and clambered into the interior, upsetting Nip’s basket in his fury; the result of which neglect to let sleeping dogs lie was that the unsagacious animal mounted growling guard over the instrument-case, as before a burglar.
“You’d best get it for me,” he said sullenly. “And by the way, how much do I owe you?”