“Sort of a ‘man-and-wife’ quarrel,” was the donkey’s man’s comment.  “There’s something as corks ’em up, and something uncorks ’em; but what that something is, I ain’t, nor you ain’t, man enough to inform the company.”

He rubbed his little donkey’s nose affectionately.

“Any gentleman open to a bet I don’t overtake that ere Hansom within three miles o’ Ewell?” he asked, as he took the rein.

But his little donkey’s quality was famous in the neighbourhood.

“Come on, then,” he said; “and show what you can do, without emilation, Master Tom.”

Away the little donkey trotted.

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: 

All women are the same—­Know one, know all
Exceeding variety and quantity of things money can buy
He will be a part of every history (the fool)
I never pay compliments to transparent merit
I haven’t got the pluck of a flea
Love dies like natural decay
Pleasant companion, who did not play the woman obtrusively among men
Silence is commonly the slow poison used by those who mean to murder love
The woman seeking for an anomaly wants a master
The backstairs of history (Memoirs)
To be her master, however, one must not begin by writhing as her slave
Wait till the day’s ended before you curse your luck
With this money, said the demon, you might speculate
Work is medicine