“Now, handsome and strong Marquis certainly was, but that was about all you could say in his favour, for he had a detestable temper. I hardly know why I call Marquis one of my pets, for we children were never allowed to drive him, hardly even to stroke him, lest he should kick or bite; and he was addicted to both these bad habits. Whenever he thought he had hurt anyone, or done mischief of any kind, you might see him shake all over, as if he was having a good quiet laugh all to himself. Once he succeeded in breaking the traces and getting free from the carriage: then he indulged in something more than a quiet chuckle, and fell to neighing or braying—for I hardly know which to call it—with all his might, till we were nearly deafened by the horrid noise. I remember another occasion, when he succeeded in upsetting the little carriage and breaking the shafts. My mother and I and the coachman were all thrown out. Luckily we were not much hurt; and while we were picking ourselves up, Marquis stood looking at us with an air of triumph, and amused himself by kicking up the dust with his hoofs till we were almost smothered.
“Marquis had, however, one tender place in his heart, and that was occupied by our dog Coco. Coco was a spaniel; no great beauty perhaps; but he was as good and amiable as Marquis was the reverse. How two creatures so unlike in disposition—one so good-hearted, the other so vicious—could have struck up such a friendship, I never could make out. If Coco went into the field where Marquis was grazing, the mule would run up to him directly, and I have even seen the two rub their noses together as if they were kissing. Coco had a comfortable bed in the kitchen, but he preferred at night going to sleep upon the straw in the little out-house which served as a stable for Marquis.
“The winter we were at the chateau happened to be unusually severe, and snow was on the ground for many days. It was always known that there were wolves in the forest, though they were rarely seen; but during the cold weather it was said that one or two had approached the village. One evening we were all sitting round the fire, Coco being in the midst of us, when he suddenly pricked up his ears, as if he heard a sound outside, and immediately rushed out of the room. Directly afterwards we heard a dreadful howling, and papa and the boys ran out to see what it was. They found Coco and a wolf waging a dreadful combat just outside the door of the shed where Marquis was kept. This was not the regular stable for the horses, and was rather separated from the other buildings of the chateau. On the approach of human beings the wolf ran off, but he had inflicted a mortal wound upon poor Coco, who was just expiring when his rescuers arrived. He died to defend his friend Marquis.”
COWSLIP GATHERING.
Merry time, when cowslips bloom;
Merry time, when thrushes sing;
Merry time, when wild rose sprays
Far abroad their branches fling.