A CHAPTER OF NOTHINGS 121 



carrots and then left her eating one. I went back 

 to see what was the matter; the last carrot had 

 fallen from her mouth and her head was tied so 

 short she was just going to be groomed she 

 could not reach it. When I picked it up and gave 

 it to her she was quite satisfied. She was one of 

 those big-hearted horses, always ready to do more 

 than she was asked, wanting to go off the moment 

 she was mounted, and as much pleased to go away 

 from home as when her head was turned towards 

 her stable. 



I used to see her fed, to make sure that Suki, the 

 syce, gave her the right amount and that she got it 

 all, and it often happened in camp that she and I fed 

 together, as I dined and breakfasted outside, and she 

 and her bucket of corn were brought up in front of 

 me. Fanny always finished first and then Suki let 

 go of her and she walked up to the table to see what 

 I had got and if there was anything for her. She had 

 very good table manners and stood waiting, often 

 with her head over my shoulder, till I showed her 

 what she might have on a plate on the table : and 

 I tried her with all sorts of things. She always 

 finished up my bread and potatoes for me and 

 managed to lap up milk out of a saucer, without 

 making much mess either; she had rather a fancy 

 for macaroni cheese and licked the plate round very 

 clean when she had eaten it all ; then rather reluct- 

 antly would be taken away by the syce. It grew 

 to be a regular thing for her to come in to dessert. 



As we were riding one morning we went through 

 a village where I saw some very curious and striking 



