n three times."

"I'm glad to hear it. He never did want the whip."

"I didn't say that, sir. If ever a horse wanted the whip, he do. He's
brought me to beggary almost with his snail's pace. I'm very glad you've
come to rid me of him."

"I don't know that," said Mr. Raymond. "Suppose I were to ask you to buy
him of me--cheap."

"I wouldn't have him in a present, sir. I don't like him. And I wouldn't
drive a horse that I didn't like--no, not for gold. It can't come to
good where there's no love between 'em."

"Just bring out your own horse, and let me see what sort of a pair
they'd make."

Joseph laughed rather bitterly as he went to fetch Diamond.

When the two were placed side by side, Mr. Raymond could hardly keep
his countenance, but from a mingling of feelings. Beside the great,
red, round barrel, Ruby, all body and no legs, Diamond looked like a
clothes-horse with a skin thrown over it. There was hardly a spot of
him where you could not descry some sign of a bone underneath. Gaunt and
grim and weary he stood, kissing his master, and heeding no one else.

"You haven't been using him well," said Mr. Raymond.

"I must say," returned Joseph, throwing an arm round his horse's neck,
"that the remark had better have been spared, sir. The horse is worth
three of the other now."

"I don't think so. I think they make a very nice pair. If the one's too
fat, the other's too lean--so that's all right. And if you won't buy my
Ruby, I must buy your Diamond."

"Thank you, sir," said Joseph, in a tone implying anything but thanks.

"You don't seem to like the proposal," said Mr. Raymond.

"I don't," returned Joseph. "I wouldn't part with my old Diamond for his
skin as full of nuggets as it is of bones."

"Who said anything about parting with him?"

"You did now, sir."

"No; I didn't. I only spoke of buying him to make a pair with Ruby. We
could pare Ruby and patch Diamond a bit. And for height, they are as
near a match as I care about. Of course you would be the coachman--if
only you would consent to be reconciled to Ruby."

Joseph stood bewildered, unable to answer.

"I've bought a small place in Kent," continued Mr. Raymond, "and I must
have a pair to my carriage, for the roads are hilly thereabouts. I don't
want to make a show with a pair of high-steppers. I think these will
just do. Suppose, for a week or two, you set yourself to take Ruby down
and bring Diamond up. If we could only lay a pipe from Ruby's