×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.


image

Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse by Anna Sewell, Chapter 21. The Parting

Chapter 21. The Parting

Now I had lived in this happy place three years, but sad changes were about to come over us. We heard from time to time that our mistress was ill. The doctor was often at the house, and the master looked grave and anxious. Then we heard that she must leave her home at once, and go to a warm country for two or three years. The news fell upon the household like the tolling of a deathbell. Everybody was sorry; but the master began directly to make arrangements for breaking up his establishment and leaving England. We used to hear it talked about in our stable; indeed, nothing else was talked about.

John went about his work silent and sad, and Joe scarcely whistled. There was a great deal of coming and going; Ginger and I had full work.

The first of the party who went were Miss Jessie and Flora, with their governess. They came to bid us good-by. They hugged poor Merrylegs like an old friend, and so indeed he was. Then we heard what had been arranged for us. Master had sold Ginger and me to his old friend, the Earl of W----, for he thought we should have a good place there. Merrylegs he had given to the vicar, who was wanting a pony for Mrs. Blomefield, but it was on the condition that he should never be sold, and that when he was past work he should be shot and buried.

Joe was engaged to take care of him and to help in the house, so I thought that Merrylegs was well off. John had the offer of several good places, but he said he should wait a little and look round.

The evening before they left the master came into the stable to give some directions, and to give his horses the last pat. He seemed very low-spirited; I knew that by his voice. I believe we horses can tell more by the voice than many men can.

"Have you decided what to do, John?" he said. "I find you have not accepted either of those offers." "No, sir; I have made up my mind that if I could get a situation with some first-rate colt-breaker and horse-trainer, it would be the right thing for me. Many young animals are frightened and spoiled by wrong treatment, which need not be if the right man took them in hand. I always get on well with horses, and if I could help some of them to a fair start I should feel as if I was doing some good. What do you think of it, sir?" "I don't know a man anywhere," said master, "that I should think so suitable for it as yourself. You understand horses, and somehow they understand you, and in time you might set up for yourself; I think you could not do better. If in any way I can help you, write to me. I shall speak to my agent in London, and leave your character with him." Master gave John the name and address, and then he thanked him for his long and faithful service; but that was too much for John. "Pray, don't, sir, I can't bear it; you and my dear mistress have done so much for me that I could never repay it. But we shall never forget you, sir, and please God, we may some day see mistress back again like herself; we must keep up hope, sir." Master gave John his hand, but he did not speak, and they both left the stable.

The last sad day had come; the footman and the heavy luggage had gone off the day before, and there were only master and mistress and her maid. Ginger and I brought the carriage up to the hall door for the last time. The servants brought out cushions and rugs and many other things; and when all were arranged master came down the steps carrying the mistress in his arms (I was on the side next to the house, and could see all that went on); he placed her carefully in the carriage, while the house servants stood round crying.

"Good-by, again," he said; "we shall not forget any of you," and he got in. "Drive on, John." Joe jumped up, and we trotted slowly through the park and through the village, where the people were standing at their doors to have a last look and to say, "God bless them." When we reached the railway station I think mistress walked from the carriage to the waiting-room. I heard her say in her own sweet voice, "Good-by, John. God bless you." I felt the rein twitch, but John made no answer; perhaps he could not speak. As soon as Joe had taken the things out of the carriage John called him to stand by the horses, while he went on the platform. Poor Joe! he stood close up to our heads to hide his tears. Very soon the train came puffing up into the station; then two or three minutes, and the doors were slammed to, the guard whistled, and the train glided away, leaving behind it only clouds of white smoke and some very heavy hearts.

When it was quite out of sight John came back.

"We shall never see her again," he said--"never." He took the reins, mounted the box, and with Joe drove slowly home; but it was not our home now.


Chapter 21. The Parting

Now I had lived in this happy place three years, but sad changes were about to come over us. 现在我已经在这个快乐的地方生活了三年,但悲伤的变化即将来临。 We heard from time to time that our mistress was ill. The doctor was often at the house, and the master looked grave and anxious. Then we heard that she must leave her home at once, and go to a warm country for two or three years. The news fell upon the household like the tolling of a deathbell. 这个消息就像丧钟敲响一样传遍了这个家庭。 Everybody was sorry; but the master began directly to make arrangements for breaking up his establishment and leaving England. 每个人都感到抱歉;但是主人直接开始安排打破他的机构并离开英国。 We used to hear it talked about in our stable; indeed, nothing else was talked about. 我们曾经在我们的马厩里听到人们谈论它;事实上,没有谈及其他任何事情。

John went about his work silent and sad, and Joe scarcely whistled. 约翰沉默而悲伤地继续他的工作,而乔几乎没有吹口哨。 There was a great deal of coming and going; Ginger and I had full work.

The first of the party who went were Miss Jessie and Flora, with their governess. They came to bid us good-by. 他们来向我们道别。 They hugged poor Merrylegs like an old friend, and so indeed he was. Then we heard what had been arranged for us. 然后我们听到了为我们安排的事情。 Master had sold Ginger and me to his old friend, the Earl of W----, for he thought we should have a good place there. Merrylegs he had given to the vicar, who was wanting a pony for Mrs. Blomefield, but it was on the condition that he should never be sold, and that when he was past work he should be shot and buried.

Joe was engaged to take care of him and to help in the house, so I thought that Merrylegs was well off. 乔受雇照顾他并帮忙做家务,所以我认为 Merrylegs 过得很好。 John had the offer of several good places, but he said he should wait a little and look round. 约翰收到了几个好地方的邀请,但他说他应该稍等片刻,然后四处看看。

The evening before they left the master came into the stable to give some directions, and to give his horses the last pat. 他们离开的前一天晚上,主人来到马厩,指点方向,最后拍拍他的马。 He seemed very low-spirited; I knew that by his voice. I believe we horses can tell more by the voice than many men can.

"Have you decided what to do, John?" he said. "I find you have not accepted either of those offers." “我发现你没有接受任何一个提议。” "No, sir; I have made up my mind that if I could get a situation with some first-rate colt-breaker and horse-trainer, it would be the right thing for me. Many young animals are frightened and spoiled by wrong treatment, which need not be if the right man took them in hand. 许多幼小的动物因错误的对待而受到惊吓和宠坏,如果正确的人照顾它们,就不必这样了。 I always get on well with horses, and if I could help some of them to a fair start I should feel as if I was doing some good. 我总是和马相处得很好,如果我能帮助他们中的一些获得一个公平的开始,我应该觉得我做了一些好事。 What do you think of it, sir?" "I don't know a man anywhere," said master, "that I should think so suitable for it as yourself. “我在任何地方都不认识一个人,”主人说,“我认为像你这样适合做这件事。 You understand horses, and somehow they understand you, and in time you might set up for yourself; I think you could not do better. 你了解马,不知何故它们也了解你,到时候你可能会为自己做好准备;我认为你不能做得更好。 If in any way I can help you, write to me. I shall speak to my agent in London, and leave your character with him." Master gave John the name and address, and then he thanked him for his long and faithful service; but that was too much for John. 师父给了约翰姓名和地址,然后他感谢他长期以来忠实的服务;但这对约翰来说太过分了。 "Pray, don't, sir, I can't bear it; you and my dear mistress have done so much for me that I could never repay it. But we shall never forget you, sir, and please God, we may some day see mistress back again like herself; we must keep up hope, sir." 但我们永远不会忘记您,先生,愿上帝保佑,有一天我们可能会像她一样再次见到女主人;我们必须保持希望,长官。” Master gave John his hand, but he did not speak, and they both left the stable. 师父向约翰伸出手,但他没有说话,两人离开了马厩。

The last sad day had come; the footman and the heavy luggage had gone off the day before, and there were only master and mistress and her maid. 最后悲伤的一天到来了;仆人和沉重的行李昨天都走了,只有主人和主母还有她的丫鬟。 Ginger and I brought the carriage up to the hall door for the last time. The servants brought out cushions and rugs and many other things; and when all were arranged master came down the steps carrying the mistress in his arms (I was on the side next to the house, and could see all that went on); he placed her carefully in the carriage, while the house servants stood round crying. 仆人拿出垫子、地毯和许多其他东西。当一切都安排妥当后,主人抱着女主人走下台阶(我在房子旁边,可以看到发生的一切);他小心翼翼地把她放在马车里,而仆人则站在周围哭泣。

"Good-by, again," he said; "we shall not forget any of you," and he got in. "Drive on, John." “开车,约翰。” Joe jumped up, and we trotted slowly through the park and through the village, where the people were standing at their doors to have a last look and to say, "God bless them." When we reached the railway station I think mistress walked from the carriage to the waiting-room. I heard her say in her own sweet voice, "Good-by, John. God bless you." I felt the rein twitch, but John made no answer; perhaps he could not speak. As soon as Joe had taken the things out of the carriage John called him to stand by the horses, while he went on the platform. Poor Joe! he stood close up to our heads to hide his tears. Very soon the train came puffing up into the station; then two or three minutes, and the doors were slammed to, the guard whistled, and the train glided away, leaving behind it only clouds of white smoke and some very heavy hearts. 很快火车就气喘吁吁地进站了。过了两三分钟,车门砰的一声关上了,警卫吹了口哨,火车缓缓驶离,只留下一团团白烟和几颗沉重的心。

When it was quite out of sight John came back.

"We shall never see her again," he said--"never." He took the reins, mounted the box, and with Joe drove slowly home; but it was not our home now.