184 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



look at the little horse, and to ride him. Both 

 permissions being granted, he took his leave ; and 

 next day the friend came. He and the seller 

 were at home at once ; they saw what each other 

 was in a moment. 



" Take him into those meadows," said the 

 latter, " put him at any fair fences you like ; if 

 you get him into one, I shall forgive you." 



The horse answered all that was said of him. 

 Both agreed he was all that could be wished for 

 the proposed buyer. His friend made his report, 

 and recommended him not to miss the horse. 

 He promised he would not ; but it did not do. 

 The " him and his country " still jarred like the 

 string touched by truth ; and then the buying a 

 horse on a friend's trial and judgment had a want 

 of independence about it that chafed him ; and 

 again the horse was not a wide brook jumper. 

 True, there were no wide brooks to jump where 

 he hunted. He was not quite so fast as his 

 present owner wanted this seemed like putting 

 up with something inferior. No : he would 

 choose for himself, and see if he could not, by 

 giving a little more, get nearer perfection. He 

 tried: went to a dealer, gave 150/., got one that 

 he was told was perfection itself. This he had 

 no great opportunity of finding out : but the first 

 day, after one burst, he clearly ascertained he was 

 a lame one. He would have consulted the interest 



