By Birth a Lady
“He mustn’t have so much corn, Joseph,” said Mr Tiddson, parish doctor of Croppley Magna, addressing a grinning boy of sixteen, who, with his smock-frock rolled up and twisted round his waist, was holding the bridle of a very thin, dejected-looking pony, whose mane and tail seemed to have gone to the cushion-maker’s, leaving in their places a few strands that had missed the shears. The pony’s eyes were half shut, and his nose hung low; but, as if attending to his master’s words, one ear was twitched back, while the other pointed forward; and no sooner had his owner finished speaking than the poor little beast whinnied softly and shook its evidently remonstrating head. “He mustn’t have so much corn, Joseph,” said Mr Tiddson importantly. “He’s growing wild and vicious, and it was as much as I could do this morning to hold him.”
“What did he do, zir ?” said the boy, grinning a wider grin.
“Do, Joseph? He wanted to go after the hounds, and took the bit in his teeth, and kicked when they crossed the road. I shall have to diet him. Give him some water, Joseph, but no corn.”
The poor pony might well shake his head, for it was a standing joke in Croppley that the doctor tried experiments on that pony: feeding him with chaff kept in an oaty bag, and keeping him low and grey hound-like of rib, for the sake of speed when a union patient was ill.
But the pony had to be fetched out again before Joseph had removed his saddle; for just as Mr Tiddson was taking off his gloves and overcoat, a man came running up to the door, and tore at the bell, panting the while with his exertions.
“Well, what now? Is Betty Starger worse?”
“No,”—puff—“no, sir;”—puff—“it’s—it’s—”
“Well? Why don’t you speak, man?”
“Breath, sir!”—puff. “Run—all way!—puff.”
“Yes, yes,” said Mr Tiddson. “And now what is it?”
“Hax—haxiden, sir,” puffed the messenger.
George Manville Fenn
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Volume One—Chapter One.
Volume One—Chapter Two.
Volume One—Chapter Three.
Volume One—Chapter Four.
Volume One—Chapter Five.
Volume One—Chapter Six.
Volume One—Chapter Seven.
Volume One—Chapter Eight.
Volume One—Chapter Nine.
Volume One—Chapter Ten.
Volume One—Chapter Eleven.
Volume One—Chapter Twelve.
Volume One—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume One—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume One—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume One—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume One—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume One—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume One—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty.
Volume Two—Chapter One.
Volume Two—Chapter Two.
Volume Two—Chapter Three.
Volume Two—Chapter Four.
Volume Two—Chapter Five.
Volume Two—Chapter Six.
Volume Two—Chapter Seven.
Volume Two—Chapter Eight.
Volume Two—Chapter Nine.
Volume Two—Chapter Ten.
Volume Two—Chapter Eleven.
Volume Two—Chapter Twelve.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume Two—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty One.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Two.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Three.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Four.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Five.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter One.
Volume Three—Chapter Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Eight.
Volume Three—Chapter Nine.
Volume Three—Chapter Ten.
Volume Three—Chapter Eleven.
Volume Three—Chapter Twelve.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume Three—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty One.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Eight.