"Oh, nonsense! You raced for fun."
"Yes, for the best fun we could get," she said seriously. "That's why we staked what we cared most about. Don't you understand?"
For the moment her grief was merged in her unaffected surprise at his lack of comprehension.
But Milbanke was staring at her interestedly. The scene at the breakfast-table, and with it Asshlin's offended pride and ridiculous dignity, had risen before him with her soft, surprised tone, her wide, incredulous gaze. With total unconsciousness she was voicing the sentiments of her race. An Asshlin might neglect everything else in the world, but his debts of honour were sacred things.
He looked more closely at the pretty, distressed face, at the brimming eyes, and the resolutely set lips.
"And simply because you staked him," he said, "you intend to lose the dog?"
Clodagh caught her breath, and a fresh tear fell on Mick's head; then with a defiant lifting of the chin she started forward across the field.
"'Twas a fair race," she said in an unsteady voice.
CHAPTER VII
Whatever Clodagh may have felt upon the subject, she made no further allusion to the loss of her dog.