“What beasts?”
“What beasts? Do I keep turtles? My horses, woman.”
“And whither have you sent them?”
“To Denham with the baggage that came hither this morning in the company of that very fierce gentleman who was in such a pet because we had no horses.”
“Where is he?” inquired the hostess.
“At dice with those other gallants from town.”
“At dice quotha? And she's gone, you say?” asked Mrs. Quinn, pausing in her labours squarely to face her husband.
“Aye,” said he.
“Stupid!” rejoined his docile spouse, vexed by his laconic assent. “Do you mean she has run away?”
“Tis what anyone might take from what I have told you,” he answered sweetly.