210 rate's day with the old horse 



only fit for a bullet when his limbs and wind begin 

 to fail. We pension the half-hearted human ser- 

 vants, we destroy the whole-hearted beasts who 

 have worn out their youth and strength prematurely 

 in our employ. 



" How are you going to keep Joe, if I let you try, 

 Kate ? " 



"Well, father, I ought to be able to make a pound 

 a month by needlework, Christmas cards, and so 

 forth ; there is a bit of land at the cottage, so that 

 turned out on that in summer and not much worked 

 in winter, Joe need not cost much to keep, and I'll 

 groom him myself." 



" And what would the London aunts say to that, 

 Kate ? " laughed the squire. 



Kate put a hand trustingly on the old man's 

 shoulder as she answered smiling, " The London 

 aunts say a good many things, Dad, which I don't 

 agree with, and you only pretend to, you know. 

 Aunt Dorothy prefers her carpets to sunshine, at 

 least she keeps her rooms dark all day for fear the 

 sun should spoil their colours." 



" I thought it was her colour which the sun 

 spoilt, Kate ? " 



Kate laughed, and with a squeeze of her father's 

 arm and a saucy nod, flitted off to see to some member 

 of her animal kingdom. 



