"What is the meaning of this ?" "Oh!" muttered Per Karl, who was quite ready to defend himself, "there is nothing the matter with the old horses; but, of course, if we had known we were going to have you in the carriage, sir--" "Rubbish! You know perfectly well the old horses were not to be used any more.

I will tell my father, and have them shot to-morrow, as sure as ever it comes." Morten was very fond of horses; and besides, he was just in that excited and obstinate mood in which people sometimes are, when they have been dining at their club.
Madeleine tried to pacify her cousin, but it only made him all the worse.
"Just look how lame that one is--the left-hand one!" "You mean the near one, sir." "Go to the devil with your near and off! I mean the left-hand one, the mare; both her fore legs are as round as apples.

Why, I saw that in the spring." "Not both of them," answered the old coachman, doggedly.
"Yes, they are; but I will have this looked to.

I will have a stop put to it, once for all," said Morten, decidedly.

He was just in the humour to take everything very much in earnest.
As soon as they arrived, he scarcely gave himself time to help Madeleine out of the carriage, so anxious was he to examine the mare's fore legs; and she heard the voices disputing and wrangling away in the direction of the stable, as she went into the house.
Madeleine's window looked to the westward, and when she reached her room she found it open.