"Stuff, as if you weren't the best-mounted man in the regiment.
I shall send a note to Captain Sykes if you won't; he knows how to
drive a bargain."

"And give a fancy price the other way. Well, Bessie, on one
condition I'll go, and that is, that Meg goes to Bishopsworthy the
day she is yours. I won't have her eating Lady Temple's corn, and
giving her servants trouble."

"As if I should think of such a thing."

Captain Keith's estimate of the value of the steed precisely agreed
with Rachel's demand of the original price. Bessie laughed, and said
there was collusion.

"Now seriously, Alick, do you think her worth so much? Isn't it a
pity, when you know what a humbug poor Rachel is going to give it
to?" and she looked half comical, half saucy.

"If she were going to throw it into the sea, I don't see what
difference that would make."

"Ah! you are far too much interested. Nothing belonging to her can
bear a vulgar price."

"Nothing belonging to me is to gain profit by her self-denial," said
Alick, gravely. "You cannot do less than give her what she gave for
it, if you enter on the transaction at all."