One of their caps falling off is matter for
delightful reminiscences; and when a horse breaks his step, the
occurrence becomes a rear, a shy, or a plunge as they talk it over.
Austin, with quiet confidence, speaks of the greater pleasure in
riding a spirited horse, even if he does give a little trouble. It
is the stolid brute that he dislikes. (N.B. You can still see six
inches between him and the saddle when his pony trots.) I listen
and sympathise and throw out no hint that their achievements are
not really great.'
'JUNE 18TH. - Bernard is much impressed by the fact that I can be
useful to Frewen about the steamboat' [which the latter
irrepressible inventor was making]. 'He says quite with awe, "He
would not have got on nearly so well if you had not helped him."'
'JUNE 27TH. - I do not see what I could do without Austin. He
talks so pleasantly and is so truly good all through.'
'JUNE 27TH. - My chief difficulty with Austin is to get him
measured for a pair of trousers.
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