"But what had the horse been doing?"
"He had not been doing anything; he would not do that was the trouble; he was as obstinate as a mule."
"My dear Ellen," said Alice, "it was no such terrible matter as Sophia's words have made you believe. It was a clear case of obstinacy. The horse was resolved to have his own way, and not do what his rider required of him; it was necessary that either the horse or the man should give up; and as John has no fancy for giving up, he carried his point partly by management, partly, I confess, by a judicious use of the whip and spur; but there was no such furious flagellation as Sophia seems to mean, and which a good horse-man would scarce be guilty of."
"A very determined 'use,' " said Miss Sophia. "I advise you, Ellen, not to trust your pony to Mr. John; he will have no mercy on him."
"Sophia is laughing, Ellen," said Alice. "You and I know John, do we not?"
"Then he did right?" said Ellen.
"Perfectly right except in mounting the horse at all, which
I never wished him to do. No one on the place would ride him."
"He carried John beautifully all the day after that though," said Miss Sophia, "and I dare say he might have ridden him to the end of the chapter if you would have let papa give him to him. But he was of no use to anybody else. Howard couldn't manage him I suppose he was too lazy. Papa was delighted enough that day to have given John anything. And I can tell you, Black Prince the second is spirited enough; I am afraid you won't like him."
"John has a present of a horse, too, Ellen," said Alice.
"Has he? from Mr. Marshman?"