had to give them a lesson. When they brought me to James and told him, I
think he was very angry to see such big sticks. He said they were not
for young gentlemen."

"If I had been you," said Ginger, "I would have given those boys a good
kick, and that would have given them a lesson."

"No doubt you would," said Merrylegs; "but then I am not quite such a
fool as to anger our master or make James ashamed of me; besides, those
children are under my charge when they are riding; I tell you they are
entrusted to me. Why, only the other day I heard our master say to Mrs.
Blomefield, 'My dear madam, you need not be anxious about the children;
my old Merrylegs will take as much care of them as you or I could; I
assure you I would not sell that pony for any money, he is so perfectly
good-tempered and trustworthy'; and do you think I am such an ungrateful
brute as to forget all the kind treatment I have had here for five
years, and all the trust they place in me, and turn vicious, because a
couple of ignorant boys used me badly? No, no! you never had a good
place where they were kind to you, and so you don't know, and I am sorry
for you; but I can tell you good places make good horses. I wouldn't
vex our people for anything; I love them, I do," said Merrylegs, and he
gave a low "ho, ho, ho," through his nose, as he used to do in the
morning when he heard James' footstep at the door.




CHAPTER VII