ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 109 



they pitied him more on hearing the account of the work 

 he had done. The next step was to admire him as a hero, 

 while compassionating him as an uncomplaining martyr, 

 and, finally, they burst into singing his praises. 



"He really is a pretty-looking creature," says my Aunt. 



" Only wants a little more care and attention than I can 

 afford to give him. Ma'am," says Mr. Jarvis, artfully. 



"Yes," says Mrs. Pullinger to her husband, "I think 

 when we bought Riiby for the children, he wasn't a bit 

 better-looking than this." 



"No dear," replies Pullinger, " and he's as handsome a 

 pony — not quite the size of this — as Fve ever seen." 



(Ahem ! Does Pullinger wish me to buy Ruby, I 

 wonder?) 



The Lady in the Riding-habit observes, " I think he 

 would turn out very well." 



" Of course," observes my Equestrian Visitor, " he'll never 

 be showy. But " (to me) " you don't want a Park hack : 

 you want something useful, for double work, and up to your 

 weight." 



Now he is at it. I've only known this gentleman half an 

 hour, I've not spoken to him three times, and yet, in a matter 

 of horses, he professes to know exactly what / want. 



If anything could set me against buying this horse on the 

 spot, it is this remark of the Equestrian's. At the same 

 time, I feel that what he says is true. I do not want a Park 

 hack, or rather a Park hack is not a necessity of my exist- 

 ence ; that is, I can do without one, though if I could get one 

 for the same price as a donkey, I would buy it ; because. 



