’Right! Of course it is right,’ said the carrier. ’Five pounds! Why that will come in handy. It will go towards the cost of the horse if you persist. As for these lambs, he ought to pay me for them, but I don’t like to press it, as I hear he won’t allow it was his dog killed them, and he swears Hillary shot Rover out of spite, and lays the lamb-killing on the dog unjustly. Well, Honor, I suppose you must have your own way; but it is hard on Charles and me, who work as slaves—we who by rights should be squires.’ *CHAPTER XXI.* *REFUSED!* The carrier walked slowly and reluctantly to Langford. He was uncomfortable with the answer he had to take to Taverner Langford. Oliver was a kindly man, ready to oblige any one, shrinking from nothing so sensitively as from a rough word and an angry mood. ’It would have saved a lot of trouble,’ said he to himself, ’if Honor had given way. I shouldn’t have been so out of countenance now—and it does seem an ungrateful thing after the loan of the horse.’ He found Langford in his parlour at his desk. The old man spun round on his seat. ’Ah, ha!’ said he, ’come at my call, father-in-law. Well—when is the wedding to be?’ The carrier stood stupidly looking at him, rubbing his hands together and shifting from foot to foot. ’The wedding!’ ’Yes, man, the wedding; when is it to be?’ ’The wedding!’ repeated Oliver, looking through the window for help. ’I’m sure I don’t know.’ ’You must find that out. I’m impatient to be married. Ha, ha! what faces the Nanspians will pull, father and son, when they see me lead from church a blooming, blushing bride.’ ’Well, now,’ said the carrier, wiping the perspiration from his brow, ’I’m sorry to have to say it, but Honor don’t see it in the proper light.’ ’What—refuses me?’ ’Not exactly refuses, but begs off.’ ’Begs off!’ repeated Taverner, incredulously. He could hardly have been more disconcerted if he had heard that all his cattle were dying and his stacks blazing. ’Begs off!’ he again exclaimed; ’then how about my horse?’ The carrier scratched his head and sighed. ’Do you suppose that I gave you the horse?’ said Taverner. ’You can hardly have been such a fool as that. I am not one to give a cow here, and a sheep there, and a horse to a third, just because there are so many needy persons wanting them. You must return me the horse and pay me ten shillings a week for the hire during the time you have had him, unless Honor becomes my wife.’ ’I will pay you for the horse,’ said Luxmore, faintly.