She understood my welcome , and came right up to me , patted me , peered into my face , rubbed my nose , and looked at my feet with an air of interest and sympathy , that made me feel as if I 'd like to carry her round the world . '' ` Ah , what rides we had after that ! What happy hours trotting gayly through the green woods , galloping over the breezy hills , or pacing slowly along quiet lanes , where I often lunched luxuriously on clover-tops , while Miss Merry took a sketch of some picturesque bit with me in the foreground . '' ' I liked that , and we had long chats at such times , for she seemed to understand me perfectly . She was never frightened when I danced for pleasure on the soft turf , never chid me when I snatched a bite from the young trees as we passed through sylvan ways , never thought it a trouble to let me wet my tired feet in babbling brooks , or to dismount and take out the stones that plagued me . '' ` Then how well she rode ! So firm yet light a seat , so steady a hand , so agile a foot to spring on and off , and such infectious spirits , that no matter how despondent or cross I might be , in five minutes I felt gay and young again when dear Miss Merry was on my back . ' `` Here Rosa gave a frisk that sent the straw flying , and made me shrink into a corner , while she pranced about the box with a neigh which waked the big brown colt next door , and set poor Buttercup to lowing for her calf , the loss of which she had forgotten for a little while in sleep . '' ` Ah , Miss Merry never ran away from me ! She knew my heels were to be trusted , and she let me caper as I would , glad to see me lively . Never mind , Miss Belinda , come out and I 'll be sober , as befits my years , ' laughed Rosa , composing herself , and adding , so like a woman that I could not help smiling in the dark , -- '' ` When I say `` years '' I beg you to understand that I am not as old as that base man declared , but just in the prime of life for a horse . Hard usage has made me seem old before my time , and I am good for years of service yet . ' '' ` Few people have been through as much as you have , Rosa , and you certainly have earned the right to rest , ' I said consolingly , for her little whims and vanities amused me much . '' ` You know what happened next , ' she continued ; ` but I must seize this opportunity to express my thanks for all the kindness I 've received since Miss Merry bought me , in spite of the ridicule and dissuasion of all her friends . '' ' I know I did n't look like a good bargain , for I was very thin and lame and shabby ; but she saw and loved the willing spirit in me , pitied my hard lot , and felt that it would be a good deed to buy me even if she never got much work out of me . '' ' I shall always remember that , and whatever happens to me hereafter , I never shall be as proud again as I was the day she put my new saddle and bridle on , and I was led out , sleek , plump , and handsome , with blue rosettes at my ears , my tail cut in the English style , and on my back Miss Merry in her London hat and habit , all ready to head a cavalcade of eighteen horsemen and horsewomen . We were the most perfect pair of all , and when the troop caracoled down the wide street six abreast , my head was the highest , my rider the straightest , and our two hearts the friendliest in all the goodly company . '' ` Nor is it pride and love alone that binds me to her , it is gratitude as well , for did not she often bathe my feet herself , rub me down , water me , blanket me , and daily come to see me when I was here alone for weeks in the winter time ? Did n't she study horses ' feet and shoes , that I might be cured if possible ? Did n't she write to the famous friend of my race for advice , and drive me seven miles to get a good smith to shoe me well ?
Have not my poor contracted feet grown much better , thanks to the XXXXX of rest without shoes which she gave me ?
English Merry cavalcade chats dismount dissuasion frisk hours neigh weeks