They went, and Joseph, having first taken off his harness,
walked Ruby into the middle of the yard.

"Why," said Mr. Raymond, "you've not been using him well."

"I don't know what you mean by that, sir. I didn't expect to hear
that from you. He's sound in wind and limb--as sound as a barrel."

"And as big, you might add. Why, he's as fat as a pig! You don't
call that good usage!"

Joseph was too angry to make any answer.

"You've not worked him enough, I say. That's not making good use
of him. That's not doing as you'd be done by."

"I shouldn't be sorry if I was served the same, sir."

"He's too fat, I say."

"There was a whole month I couldn't work him at all, and he did
nothing but eat his head off. He's an awful eater. I've taken
the best part of six hours a day out of him since, but I'm always
afraid of his coming to grief again, and so I couldn't make the most
even of that. I declare to you, sir, when he's between the shafts,
I sit on the box as miserable as if I'd stolen him. He looks all
the time as if he was a bottling up of complaints to make of me
the minute he set eyes on you again. There! look at him now,
squinting round at me with one eye! I declare to you, on my word,
I haven't laid the whip on him more than three times."