“Some day,” went on Mistress Lloyd, “my father will buy you for me and I shall take you down to Maryland—I want Tom Dulaney to see you!” True could hear by the tones of her voice as she mentioned his name that this Tom Dulaney must be a personage of consequence. “You are small, and some might say not lean enough to hunt, but you are the dearest animal I ever won the love of!” For ’twas ever the habit of this fair maid to weave her spell over animals, and well aware was she of their response!
Then, oh, miracle of delights! as she finished tying the strand she kissed his straight face with lips that looked and smelled like crimson clover blossoms wet with dew.
This perfumed dream was broken by a disagreeable laugh, and a well-bred but none the less offensive voice said:
“The brute will bite you, Mistress.”
It was the Coxcomb speaking.
“I am afraid of no horse living, Master Knickerbocker,” she gave reply, quietly; then looking straight at him, she finished, “horses are often truer than men.”
She turned quickly and joined her father.
CHAPTER VIII.
TRUE GOES TO FOUND HIS RACE.
Beautiful Bay boasted of having carried the Marquis de Lafayette to the great banquet the Hartford people gave him at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, in 1784. The reference to this made the younger horse hope, as ever, rather recklessly, that another war might be declared which would give him such opportunities to distinguish himself as his father had had.