“So, of course,” said Aggie, frigidly, “you killed sheep, too?”

“For our own consumption—yes.”

He said it a little haughtily. He wished her to understand the difference between a grazier and a butcher.

“And lambs? Little lambs?”

“Well, yes. I’m afraid the little lambs had to go, too, sometimes.”

“How could you? How could you?”

“How could I? Well, you see, I just had to. I couldn’t shirk when the other fellows didn’t. In time you get not to mind.”

“Not to mind?”

“Well, I never exactly enjoyed doing it.”

“No. But you did it. And you didn’t mind.”