The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



called to the fact that the other two little 

 ladies, piqued by his neglect, are browsing 

 with animation on the other side of his neck 

 and shoulder. He makes a dive at the flank of 

 the nearest, and the action is so abrupt that 

 she rears in defence, and puts a forefoot on his 

 neck, catching it in the rein. She excitedly 

 tries to release herself, and you have to inter- 

 vene to throw her off. Loves of the horses 

 are sudden and tumultuous, and courtship is 

 of the briefest. The perky one, having com- 

 pletely lost her small heart to Disciple, comes 

 back to tell him so, and proceeds to do it as 

 plainly as any little pony can. But the other 

 one who gnawed at his neck also finds herself 

 overcome with a sudden infatuation for him, 

 and palpably indicates her capitulation. To- 

 gether they get in front of Disciple, and push 

 and jostle in their competition for his kind 

 attentions. He gnaws at each impartially, 

 and each responds as if she were his best 

 beloved. Ecstatic thrills pass through the 

 bodies of the two little ponies when in receipt 

 of his favours, but the joy is intermittent, for 

 he can only gnaw one at a time. And thus 

 entered this Garden of Eden that monster, 

 green-eyed Jealousy. Side by side, each has 

 regarded herself as the true fiancee of the 

 great horse ; but now each is seized with the 

 obsession that the obnoxious presence of the 

 other alone frustrates attentions from Disciple 



138 



