Griff was wont to say that Chancery
deserved her name, and that he would defy the ninety-ninth part of a
tailor to come to harm with her; but Clarence was utterly
unpractised in riding, did not like it, was tormented lest Cossack's
antics should corrupt Chancery, and was mortally afraid of breaking
the knees of the precious mare. Not all Parson Frank's good advice
and kindly raillery would induce him to risk riding her on a
descent; and as our travels were entirely up and down hill, he was
often left leading her far behind, in hot sun or misty rain, and
then would come cantering hastily up, reckless of parallels with
John Gilpin, and only anxious to be in time to help me out at the
halting-place; but more than once only coming in when the beefsteaks
were losing their first charm, and then good-humouredly serving as
the general butt for his noble horsemanship. Did any one fully
comprehend how much pleasanter our journey was through the presence
of one person entirely at the service of the others? For my own
part, it made an immense difference to have one pair of strong arms
and dextrous well-accustomed hands always at my service, enabling me
to accomplish what no one else, kind as all were, would have
ventured on letting me attempt. Primarily, he was my devoted slave;
but he was at the beck and call of every one, making the inquiries,
managing the bargains, going off in search of whatever was wanting--
taking in fact all the 'must be dones' of the journal.
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