EFFECT OF THE CURB. 203 



She immediately stopped the carriage and went 

 to the horses' heads. The near horse was all right, 

 but the curb-chain of the off horse was drawn so 

 tightly that it actually sank into the skin of the 

 lower jaw. It was so tight that she could hardly 

 unloose it. On her inquiry, the coachman a new 

 one said that the horse was so restive, and given 

 to bolting, that he was afraid to drive it except with 

 a tight curb. 



However, to his amazement, the lady not only 

 loosened the curb, but took it oft', and put it in her 

 pocket, so that it could not be replaced. Then she 

 shifted the reins to the snaffle rings, and returned 

 to the carriage. The horse shook his head three 

 or four times, as if to assure himself that he was 

 relieved from the curb, and then went off with per- 

 fect ease and smoothness. 



I had a talk with the coachman afterwards, and 

 found, as I had surmised, that the man had only 

 followed the traditions of his order, and thought that 

 a high-spirited horse must be a vicious one. He was 

 entirely surprised at the result of his mistress's action, 

 and when she took her place in the carriage after 

 removing the curb, he made up his mind to be pre- 

 pared for an accident. 



I am sure that the lady in question will pardon 

 me for recording this historiette, because it re- 



