human
Mr. Bolivar, I know Nelly loves Pepper and Salt, but I'd like to make you an offer for those horses just the same. I knew when I first saw them that they had splendid possibilities and only needed half a chance. You need two strong, able work-horses for your farm--these horses are both too high-bred for such work, that you know as well as I do--so I propose that we make a sensible bargain right now. We have a span of bays; good, stout fellows six years old, which we have used on the estate. They shall be yours for this pair with one hundred and twenty- five dollars to boot. Salt and Pepper are worth six hundred dollars right now, and in a little while, and under proper care and training, will be worth a good deal more. Shelby will bear me out in that, won't you?
gpt
I'd be a plumb fool if I didn't, miss, was Shelby's reply, and Peggy nodded and resumed:
human
I have paid seventy-five dollars for Salt, adding to that the one-twenty-five and the span, which I value at four hundred, would make it a square deal, don't you think so?
gpt
One hundred and twenty-five dollars, and a span worth four hundred for a pair of horses which a month before he would have found it hard to sell for seventy-five each?--well, Miss Stewart must certainly be crazy.
human
I'm perfectly serious, Mr. Bolivar,
gpt
Yas'm, yas'm, but, my Lord, miss, I ain't seen THAT much money in two year, and your horses--I ain't seen 'em, and I don't want ter; if YOU say they're worth it that goes, but--but--well, well, things has been sort o' tough--sort o' tough,