At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
page 299 of 360 (83%)
page 299 of 360 (83%)
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the roads with, and it gave my ankle such a twist."
"Ankle indeed! Why should you ape your betters? Horses ain't got any ankles: they're only pasterns. And so long as you don't lift your feet better, but fall asleep between every step, you'll run a good chance of laming all your ankles as you call them, one after another. It's not your lively horse that comes to grief in that way. I tell you I believe it wasn't much, and if it was, it was your own fault. There! I've done. I'm going to sleep. I'll try to think as well of you as I can. If you would but step out a bit and run off a little of your fat!" Here Diamond began to double up his knees; but Ruby spoke again, and, as young Diamond thought, in a rather different tone. "I say, Diamond, I can't bear to have an honest old horse like you think of me like that. I will tell you the truth: it was my own fault that I fell lame." "I told you so," returned the other, tumbling against the partition as he rolled over on his side to give his legs every possible privilege in their narrow circumstances. "I meant to do it, Diamond." At the words, the old horse arose with a scramble like thunder, shot his angry head and glaring eye over into Ruby's stall, and said-- "Keep out of my way, you unworthy wretch, or I'll bite you. You a horse! Why did you do that?" |
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