ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 63 



Clumber, who has apparently been absorbed in thought 

 during this colloquy, now addresses Spoken 



" She's rising five ; yes, rising five, that's what she is." 



" Rising five ? " repeats Spoker, inquiringly. 



" Rising five," returns Clumber, as though anxious to be 

 most careful and particular on this point. 



As I have no means of contradicting this statement, I 

 accept it. Still I can't help thinking that if the mare is 

 really a grandmother (and as far as I can tell I don't see 

 why she shouldn't be), how they must all be laughing at me 

 in their sleeves. 



Happy Thought, — To pass my hand over its hind- 

 quarters. 



This evidently is a horsey and knowing sort of thing to do, 

 as it seems to interest the Squinter, and makes the horse a 

 trifle restive. I haven't the smallest idea what knowledge of 

 the horse's soundness I am to gain by passing my hand thus 

 over her hind-quarters ; but as she herself rather appears to 

 resent it, I am led to ask, dubiously, and quite as if I were 

 on the very brink of discovering her one weak point, "Is 

 she quiet t "• 



Clumber doesn't seem to have heard my question. Spoker 

 repeats it loudly to him, and Clumber puts his hand to his 

 ear. 



" The gentleman asks if she's quiet ? " Spoker shouts. 



" Quiet?" repeats Clumber, softly — his voice is melancholy 

 and husky— as though he scarcely realised that such a 

 question would have been put by any one in his senses. 



