bulk and appearance,
like the god Ganesa, the Hindoo god of wisdom, and that my ponies were
shown as no larger than poodles, rats, or mice. It is also true that I
could readily enough have carried my pair one under each arm, and taken
the carriage on my back. I did for a moment think of having a pony
four-in-hand, but such a Liliputian equipage would have merely attracted
greater attention. So to my great regret, for I had already become fond
of them, I replaced my Shetlands with two dapple-gray cobs of larger
size, with powerful necks, broad chests, stout and well set up, which
were not Mecklenburghers, no doubt, but plainly more capable of dragging
me along. They were both mares, the one called Jane, the other Betsy. So
far as outward looks went, they were as alike as two peas, and never was
there a better matched pair apparently. But Betsy was as lazy as Jane
was willing. While the one drew steadily, the other was satisfied with
trotting along, saving herself and taking good care to do nothing. These
two animals, of the same breed, of the same age, and destined to live in
the same stable, had the liveliest antipathy for each other. They could
not bear one another, fought in the stable, and bit each other as they
reared in harness. It was impossible to reconcile them, which was a
pity, for with their hog manes, like those of the horses on the
Parthenon frieze, their quivering nostrils, and their eyes dilated with
anger, they looked uncommonly handsome as they were driven up or down
the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. A substitute had to be found for Betsy,
and a small mare, somewhat lighter coloured, for it had been impossible
to match her exactly, was brought round. Jane immediately welcomed the
new-comer and did the honours of the stable to her most graciously, and
ere long they became fast friends. Jane would rest her head on Blanche's
neck--she had been so called because her gray coat was rather
whitish--and when they were let loose in the yard after being rubbed
down, they would play together like a pair of dogs of children. If one
was taken out driving, the one left in the stable was plainly wearying
for her, and as soon as she heard in the distance the ring of her
companion's hoofs on the paving-stones, she set up a joyous neigh, like
a trumpet-blast, to which the other did not fail to reply as she
approached.

They would come up to be harnessed with astonishing docility, and took
of themselves their proper place b