National Velvet: Part 4

By ENID BAGNOLD

Velvet opened the box and took out a stable rubber two inches square, a portion of her handkerchief, hemmed round. Laying the little horse flat on the table she rubbed him with delicacy in circular motions, after having taken a paper saddle from his back.

The horse was racer cut from the Bystander. He stood three inches high and had a raking neck and a keen, veined face. By dint of much rubbing the paper had given off a kind of coat, and now as Velvet rubbed there came a suede-like sheen on the horse's paper body. He was dark, more carefully cut out, and pasted upon cardboard. The bridle was make by the fingers of a fairy, noseband, chinstrap and all, in black cotton.

'He has a high action,' said Velvet. 'A lovely show canter, but a difficult trot. I didn't jump him today as he needs to settle down.'

In the shell-box other horses lay.

Publisher: Mammoth

Price: $16.95

Age group: 9 plus yrs


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