When I heard of it first, I opened my eyes wide, only no amount of discretion on my part could enable me to take part against both Pen and Robert in a matter which pleases Pen.

I hope they won't combine to give me an Austrian daughter-in-law when Peni is sixteen.

So I say 'Yes,' 'Yes,' 'Certainly,' and the pony is to be bought, and carried to Rome (fancy that!), and we are to hunt up some small Italian princes and princesses to ride with him at Rome (I object to Hatty Hosmer, who has been thrown thirty times[70]).

In fact, Pen has been very coaxing about the pony.

He has beset Robert in private and then, as privately, entreated me, 'if papa spoke to me about the pony, not to _discourage_ him.' So I discouraged nobody, but am rather triumphantly glad, upon the whole, that we have done such a very foolish, extravagant thing.
Robert will have told you, I am sure, what a lovely picture Mr.Wilde, the American artist (staying with the Storys), has made of Penini on horseback, and presented to me.