into good hands, Bessie volunteered to buy it, it was exactly what
would suit her, and she should delight in it as a reminder of dear
Avonmouth. It was a pang, Rachel loved the pretty spirited creature,
and thought of her rides with the Colonel; but how weigh the pleasure
of riding against the welfare of one of those hard-worked, half-
stifled little girls, and besides, it might be best to have done with
Colonel Keith now that her mission had come to find her. So the
coachman set a purposely unreasonable value upon poor Meg, and Rachel
reduced the sum to what had been given for it three years before; but
Bessie begged her brother to look at the animal and give his opinion.

"Is that what you are after?" he exclaimed.

"Indeed, Alick, I thought it was the greatest kindness I could do
her; she is so very eager about this plan, and so anxious to find
poor Meg a good home."

"Purely to oblige her?"

"Of course, Alick, it was much more convenient to her than if she had
had to send about to horse-dealers or to advertise. I doubt if she
could have done it at all; and it is for her asylum, you know."

"Then give the coachman's sixty guineas at once."

"Ah, Alick, that's your infatuation!" and she put on a droll gesture
of pity. "But excuse me, where would be the fine edge of delicacy in
giving a manifestly fancy price? Come and look at her."

"I never meddle with horse-dealing."