When they talked to him nicely he had always a good answer, sometimes a smart one, ready, and that helped much to make them change their minds about him.
One day Jack gave him a curry-comb and a brush to try his hand upon old Diamond's coat.

He used them so deftly, so gently, and yet so thoroughly, as far as he could reach, that the man could not help admiring him.
"You must make haste and, grow" he said.

"It won't do to have a horse's belly clean and his back dirty, you know." "Give me a leg," said Diamond, and in a moment he was on the old horse's back with the comb and brush.

He sat on his withers, and reaching forward as he ate his hay, he curried and he brushed, first at one side of his neck, and then at the other.

When that was done he asked for a dressing-comb, and combed his mane thoroughly.