“Sometimes I wonder where they put seaside children in winter,” continued Snowie. “Do they keep them in bed till the warm weather comes back again—or how?”
“Bed indeed! A cast iron bed wouldn’t hold the lads I have to carry—wobbly imps.”
“Well, we shall have to say good-bye, Bob. By the way, where do you put up in the winter?”
“Oh! I suppose I shall have to earn my living with Carrots. You see, I carry a boy, an only son, who lives near the moors, to school every morning. Then I bring him back at nights. He lives on the moors and sometimes a stiff time we have of it, what between blizzards and frosts, and snowdrifts.”
“Then you get some fun?”
“Yes, now and again we do. Carrots is brimful of mischief when lessons are over. I help him a bit now and then myself.”
“Our poor old master doesn’t look merry,” remarked Snowie, after a while. “He’s not been well this summer. His limbs are getting stiff; I’m afraid it’s been but a poor season for him.”
“Here they are, sir,” said Jenkins, walking towards the ponies. “As fine a pair as you would wish to see. They’re good-tempered little creatures, and thorough game. Rising seven, clean limbs, wind and eyesight, and right sorry I’m to part with ’em. They’re the best couple I ever had. That’s a fact. And if my health hadn’t broke down, and I’m giving up the business, nothing in the world would have made me sell ’em.”
“They’re certainly a fine couple,” said the gentleman, patting first one of them and then the other. He was evidently impressed, for presently he said, “If your price is all right, I am sure they’ll suit my boy and girl.” And do you know it only took a few minutes to settle the bargain?
You could see that old Jenkins was pleased, the way he clinked the gold before dropping it into his bag. “I feel sure you’ll be good to ’em, sir,” he said, as the gentleman was walking away. “It’s been a quick, satisfactory bargain, but I knows you’ll not regret it.” And before Snowie had got over the fright—for she had been listening with all the ears she had got—and Bob had realised what had taken place, old Jenkins had tossed off his coat, and was grooming them down in a spluttering, whistly wheezing way, and muttering away to himself something in this manner: