The Squire exploded, "Good gracious! that is Ann Grey all over. You must have heard her say it."
"I did, and you listen, too. Sometimes you don't, Uncle Jim. I guess you weren't well broke when you were young."
"Great Scott! you minx! Some day a girl I know will have to stand at attention. Go ahead."
"Pat's ruining Dixy's mouth. You ought to see him sawing at the curb. You always rode him on the snaffle."
"That boy Pat needs a good licking, Leila."
"But Dixy don't. The fact is, Uncle Jim, you're neglecting the stables for politics."
"Is that your own wisdom, Miss Grey? What with the weight of wisdom and years, you're getting heavy. Try a chair."
"No, I'm quite comfy. It was Josiah who told me. He often comes up to look over the colts, of a Sunday—"
"Nice work for Sunday, Miss Grey."
She made no direct reply. "He told me that horse ought to be ridden by—by John or you, and no one else. He says the way to ruin a horse is to have a lot of people ride him like Pat—they're just spoiling Dixy—"