She had refused to be concerned by them until they had finally impinged upon her peace of mind.

Then they accused her; now she accused herself.

She ought not go to meet Lin Slone any more.
"But then--the race!" she murmured.

"I couldn't give that up....

And oh! I'm afraid the harm is done! What can I do ?" After the race--what then?
To be sure, all of Bostil's Ford would know she had been meeting Slone out in the sage, training his horse.