I could have pretended to be lame, but that no horse, least of
all an angel-horse would do. So I must be lame, and so I
sprained my ankle -- for the angel-horses have ankles -- they
don't talk horse-slang up there -- and it hurt me very much, I
assure you, Diamond, though you mayn't be good enough to be able
to believe it."
Old Diamond made no reply. He had lain down again, and a
sleepy snort, very like a snore, revealed that, if he was not
already asleep, he was past understanding a word that Ruby was
saying. When young Diamond found this, he thought he might
venture to take up the dropt shuttlecock of the conversation.
"I'm good enough to believe it, Ruby," he said.
But Ruby never turned his head, or took any notice of him.
I suppose he did not understand more of English than just what
the coachman and stableman were in the habit of addressing him
with. Finding, however, that his companion made no reply, he
shot his head over the partition and looking down at him said --
"You just wait till to-morrow, and you'll see whether I'm
speaking the truth or not. -- I declare the old horse is fast
asleep! -- Diamond! -- No I won't."
Ruby turned away, and began pulling at his hayrack in
silence.
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