National Velvet: Part 6

By ENID BAGNOLD

'I suppose there's not time,' said Velvet, 'to take the chestnut down for a stand in the pond? His hocks are still puffy.'

'It's not you to lay tonight,' said Mally. 'You've got ten minutes/ Don't let father see... Mind your plate! It's fallen!'

Velvet dived under the table, picked it up, and examined it anxiously. Opening her mouth she worked it painfully in with both hands.

'S'bent a bit,' she gasped. 'It's a hell plate...'

'It's no good. Don't go on! Get down to the pond.'

Velvet packed the racer in the shell-box and carefully abstracted a smaller horse, a coloured picture of a polo pony cut from The Tatler. Putting the bow away she slipped through the door with the chestnut and was gone.

Publisher: Mammoth

Price: $16.95

Age group: 9 plus yrs


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