ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 151 



There is something in this I don't hke. What does *' fat 

 and wheezy'' mean? It's artfully thrown in. 



Jelfer's Letter.—'-^ He's not fast, but you don't want to 

 ride trotting matches or drive sixteen miles an hour." 



No, I don't absolutely want to. But if I had a horse 

 which could certainly beat every other horse trotting, and 

 could easily go sixteen miles an hour, why I should do 

 it, even if I had to wear a white hat with a black band, 

 tight trousers, and be compelled to attend suburban race- 

 meetings. 



Jelfers Grey arrives. 



It's a heavy-looking, sleepy-eyed animal, with white eye- 

 lashes. No doubt about its being a Grey. I should describe 

 it as a moulting Grey. I have seen something like him in 

 Flemish pictures. 



I at once inspect his knees. No — there is no sign of his 

 having been down. So far, Jelfer is honest. 



Murgle, behind his hand, gives it as his opinion, '' As he's 

 a niceish sort of 'orse." 



'■' Strong ? '* I observe. 



** Yes, Sir," returns Murgle, as if he was keeping his real 

 opinion to himself, and was putting his hand to his mouth 

 either to prevent its coming out, or to hide a smile — " Yes, 

 Sir, he is strong." 



The man who has brought him says nothing. But I 

 notice that his eyes and Murgle's meet occasionally, and 

 tliat they both seem troubled with a short cough. 



The man (after a glass of beer and a shilling for himself) 

 says, as he "don't know nothink about the 'oss— honly 



