at the back of the north wind-第38章

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his　mind　in　English。　　The　first　words　he　heard　were　from　Diamond；

who　apparently　had　been　already　quarrelling　with　Ruby。



〃Look　how　fat　you　are　Ruby！〃　said　old　Diamond。　　〃You　are　so　plump

and　your　skin　shines　so；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself。〃



〃There's　no　harm　in　being　fat；〃　said　Ruby　in　a　deprecating　tone。　

〃No；　nor　in　being　sleek。　　I　may　as　well　shine　as　not。〃



〃No　harm？〃　retorted　Diamond。　　〃Is　it　no　harm　to　go　eating　up　all

poor　master's　oats；　and　taking　up　so　much　of　his　time　grooming　you；

when　you　only　work　six　hoursno；　not　six　hours　a　day；　and；　as　I　hear；

get　along　no　faster　than　a　big　dray…horse　with　two　tons　behind　him？

So　they　tell　me。〃



〃Your　master's　not　mine；〃　said　Ruby。　　〃I　must　attend　to　my　own

master's　interests；　and　eat　all　that　is　given　me；　and　be　sleek

and　fat　as　I　can；　and　go　no　faster　than　I　need。〃



〃Now　really　if　the　rest　of　the　horses　weren't　all　asleep；　poor　things

they　work　till　they're　tiredI　do　believe　they　would　get　up　and　kick

you　out　of　the　stable。　　You　make　me　ashamed　of　being　a　horse。　

You　dare　to　say　my　master　ain't　your　master！　　That's　your　gratitude

for　the　way　he　feeds　you　and　spares　you！　　Pray　where　would　your

carcass　be　if　it　weren't　for　him？〃



〃He　doesn't　do　it　for　my　sake。　　If　I　were　his　own　horse；　he　would

work　me　as　hard　as　he　does　you。〃



〃And　I'm　proud　to　be　so　worked。　　I　wouldn't　be　as　fat　as　you

not　for　all　you're　worth。　　You're　a　disgrace　to　the　stable。　　Look　at

the　horse　next　you。　　He's　something　like　a　horseall　skin　and　bone。　

And　his　master　ain't　over　kind　to　him　either。　　He　put　a　stinging　lash

on　his　whip　last　week。　　But　that　old　horse　knows　he's　got　the　wife

and　children　to　keepas　well　as　his　drunken　masterand　he　works

like　a　horse。　　I　daresay　he　grudges　his　master　the　beer　he　drinks；

but　I　don't　believe　he　grudges　anything　else。〃



〃Well；　I　don't　grudge　yours　what　he　gets　by　me；〃　said　Ruby。



〃Gets！〃　retorted　Diamond。　　〃What　he　gets　isn't　worth　grudging。　

It　comes　to　next　to　nothingwhat　with　your　fat　and　shine。



〃Well；　at　least　you　ought　to　be　thankful　you're　the　better　for　it。　

You　get　a　two　hours'　rest　a　day　out　of　it。〃



〃I　thank　my　master　for　thatnot　you；　you　lazy　fellow！　　You　go

along　like　a　buttock　of　beef　upon　castorsyou　do。〃



〃Ain't　you　afraid　I'll　kick；　if　you　go　on　like　that；　Diamond？〃



〃Kick！　　You　couldn't　kick　if　you　tried。　　You　might　heave　your　rump

up　half　a　foot；　but　for　lashing　outoho！　　If　you　did；　you'd　be

down　on　your　belly　before　you　could　get　your　legs　under　you　again。　

It's　my　belief；　once　out；　they'd　stick　out　for　ever。　　Talk　of　kicking！　

Why　don't　you　put　one　foot　before　the　other　now　and　then　when　you're

in　the　cab？　　The　abuse　master　gets　for　your　sake　is　quite　shameful。　

No　decent　horse　would　bring　it　on　him。　　Depend　upon　it；　Ruby；　no　cabman

likes　to　be　abused　any　more　than　his　fare。　　But　his　fares；　at　least

when　you　are　between　the　shafts；　are　very　much　to　be　excused。　

Indeed　they　are。〃



〃Well；　you　see；　Diamond；　I　don't　want　to　go　lame　again。〃



〃I　don't　believe　you　were　so　very　lame　after　allthere！〃



〃Oh；　but　I　was。〃



〃Then　I　believe　it　was　all　your　own　fault。　　I'm　not　lame。　

I　never　was　lame　in　all　my　life。　　You　don't　take　care　of　your　legs。　

You　never　lay　them　down　at　night。　　There　you　are　with　your　huge　carcass

crushing　down　your　poor　legs　all　night　long。　　You　don't　even　care

for　your　own　legsso　long　as　you　can　eat；　eat；　and　sleep；　sleep。　

You　a　horse　indeed！〃



〃But　I　tell　you　I　was　lame。〃



〃I'm　not　denying　there　was　a　puffy　look　about　your　off…pastern。

But　my　belief　is；　it　wasn't　even　greaseit　was　fat。〃



〃I　tell　you　I　put　my　foot　on　one　of　those　horrid　stones　they　make

the　roads　with；　and　it　gave　my　ankle　such　a　twist。〃



〃Ankle　indeed！　　Why　should　you　ape　your　betters？　　Horses　ain't

got　any　ankles：　　they're　only　pasterns。　　And　so　long　as　you

don't　lift　your　feet　better；　but　fall　asleep　between　every　step；

you'll　run　a　good　chance　of　laming　all　your　ankles　as　you　call　them；

one　after　another。　　It's　not　your　lively　horse　that　comes　to　grief

in　that　way。　　I　tell　you　I　believe　it　wasn't　much；　and　if　it　was；

it　was　your　own　fault。　　There！　　I've　done。　　I'm　going　to　sleep。　

I'll　try　to　think　as　well　of　you　as　I　can。　　If　you　would　but　step　out

a　bit　and　run　off　a　little　of　your　fat！〃　　Here　Diamond　began　to　double

up　his　knees；　but　Ruby　spoke　again；　and；　as　young　Diamond　thought；

in　a　rather　different　tone。



〃I　say；　Diamond；　I　can't　bear　to　have　an　honest　old　horse　like　you

think　of　me　like　that。　　I　will　tell　you　the　truth：　　it　was　my　own

fault　that　I　fell　lame。〃



〃I　told　you　so；〃　returned　the　other；　tumbling　against　the　partition

as　he　rolled　over　on　his　side　to　give　his　legs　every　possible

privilege　in　their　narrow　circumstances。



〃I　meant　to　do　it；　Diamond。〃



At　the　words；　the　old　horse　arose　with　a　scramble　like　thunder；

shot　his　angry　head　and　glaring　eye　over　into　Ruby's　stall；

and　said



〃Keep　out　of　my　way；　you　unworthy　wretch；　or　I'll　bite　you。　

You　a　horse！　　Why　did　you　do　that？〃



〃Because　I　wanted　to　grow　fat。〃



〃You　grease…tub！　Oh！　my　teeth　and　tail！　　I　thought　you　were　a　humbug！　

Why　did　you　want　to　get　fat？　　There's　no　truth　to　be　got　out　of　you

but　by　cross…questioning。　You　ain't　fit　to　be　a　horse。〃



〃Because　once　I　am　fat；　my　nature　is　to　keep　fat　for　a　long　time；

and　I　didn't　know　when　master　might　come　home　and　want　to　see　me。〃



〃You　conceited；　good…for…nothing　brute！　　You're　only　fit　for　the

knacker's　yard。　　You　wanted　to　look　handsome；　did　you？　　Hold　your　tongue；

or　I'll　break　my　halter　and　be　at　youwith　your　handsome　fat！〃



〃Never　mind；　Diamond。　　You're　a　good　horse。　　You　can't　hurt　me。〃



〃Can't　hurt　you！　　Just　let　me　once　try。〃



〃No；　you　can't。〃



〃Why　then？〃



〃Because　I'm　an　angel。〃



〃What's　that？〃



〃Of　course　you　don't　know。〃



〃Indeed　I　don't。〃



〃I　know　you　don't。　An　ignorant；　rude　old　human　horse；　like　you；

couldn't　know　it。　　But　there's　young　Diamond　listening　to　all

we're　saying；　and　he　knows　well　enough　there　are　horses　in　heaven

for　angels　to　ride　upon；　as　well　as　other　animals；　lions　and　eagles

and　bulls；　in　more　important　situations。　　The　horses　the　angels　ride；

must　be　angel…horses；　else　the　angels　couldn't　ride　upon　them。　

Well；　I'm　one　of　them。〃



〃You　ain't。〃



〃Did　you　ever　know　a　horse　tell　a　lie？〃



〃Never　before。　　But　you've　confessed　to　shamming　lame。〃



〃Nothing　of　the　sort。　　It　was　necessary　I　should　grow　fat；

and　necessary　that　good　Joseph；　your　master；　should　grow　lean。　

I　could　have　pretended　to　be　lame；　but　that　no　horse；　least　of　all　an

angel…horse　would　do。　　So　I　must　be　lame；　and　so　I　sprained　my　ankle

for　the　angel…horses　have　anklesthey　don't　talk　horse…slang　up　there

and　it　hurt　me　very　much；　I　assure　you；　Diamond；　though　you　mayn't

be　good　enough　to　be　able　to　believe　it。〃



Old　Diamond　made　no　reply。　　He　had　lain　down　again；　and　a　sleepy　snort；

very　like　a　snore；　revealed　that；　if　he　was　not　already　asleep；

he　was　past　understanding　a　word　that　Ruby　was　saying。　　When　young

Diamond　found　this；　he　thought　he　might　venture　to　take　up　the　dropt

shuttlecock　of　the　conversation。



〃I'm　good　enough　to　believe　it；　Ruby；〃　he　said。



But　Ruby　never　turned　his　head；　or　took　any　notice　of　him。　

I　suppose　he　did　not　understand　more　of　English　than　just　what

the　coachman　and　stableman　were　in　the　habit　of　addressing

him　with。　　Finding；　however；　that　his　companion　made　no　reply；

he　shot　his　head　over　the　partition　and　looking　down　at　him　said



〃You　just　wait　till　to…morrow；　and　you'll　see　whether　I'm　speaking

the　truth　or　not。I　declare　the　old　horse　is　fast　asleep！

Diamond！No　I　won't。〃



Ruby　turned　away；　and　began　pulling　at　his　hayrack　in　silence。



Diamond　gave　a　shiver；　and　looking　round　saw　that　the　door　of　the

stable　was　open。　　He　began　to　feel　as　if　he　had　been　dreaming；

and　after　a　glance　about　the　stable　to　see　if　North　Wind　was

anywhere　visible；　he　thought　he　had　better　go　back　to　bed。







CHAPTER　XXXIII



THE　PROSPECT　BRIGHTENS





THE　next　morning；　Diamond's　mother　said　to　his　father；　〃I'm　not

quite　comfortable　about　that　child　again。〃



〃Which　child；　Martha？〃　asked　Joseph。　　〃You've　got　a　choice　now。〃



〃Well；　Diamond　I　mean。　　I'm　afraid　he's　getting　into　his　queer

ways　again。　　He's　been　at　his　old　trick　of　walking　in　his　sleep。　

I　saw　him　run　up　the　stair　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃



〃Didn't　you　go　after　him；　wife？〃



〃Of　course　I　didand　found　him　fast　asleep　in　his　bed。　　It's　because

he's　had　so　little　meat　for　the　last　six　weeks；　I'm　afraid。〃



〃It　may　be　that。　　I'm　very　sorry。　　But　if　it　don't　please　God

to　send　us　enough；　what　am　I　to　do；　wife？〃



〃You　can't　help　it；　I　know；　my　dear　good　man；〃　returned　Martha。　

〃And　after　all　I　don't　know。　　I　don't　see　why　he　shouldn't　get　on

as　well　as　the　rest　of　us。　　There　I'm　nursing　baby　all　this　time；

and　I　get　along　pretty　well。　　I'm　sure；　to　hear　the　little　man　singing；

you　wouldn't　think　there　was　much　amiss　with　him。〃



For　at　that　moment　Diamond　was　singing　like　a　lark　in　the　clouds。　

He　had　the　new　baby　in　his　arms；　while　his　mother　was　dressing　herself。　

Joseph　was　sitting　at　his　breakfasta　little　weak　tea；　dry　bread；

and　very　dubious　butterwhich　Nanny　had　set　for　him；　and　which　he

was　enjoying　because　he　was　hungry。　　He　had　groomed　both　horses；

and　had　got　old　Diamond　harnessed　ready　to　put　to。



〃Think　of　a　fat　angel；　Dulcimer！〃　said　Diamond。



The　baby　had　not　been　christened　yet；　but　Diamond；　in　reading

his　Bible；　had　come　upon　the　word　dulcimer；　and　thought　it　so　pretty

that　ever　after　he　called　his　sister　Dulcimer！



〃Think　of　a　red；　fat　angel；　Dulcimer！〃　he　repeated；　〃for　Ruby's

an　angel　of　a　horse；　Dulcimer。　　He　sprained　his　ankle　and　got　fat

on　purpose。〃



〃What　purpose；　Diamond？〃　asked　his　father。



〃Ah！　that　I　can't　tell。　　I　suppose　to　look　handsome　when　his

master　comes；〃　answered　Diamond。〃What　do　you　think；　Dulcimer？　

It　must　be　for　some　good；　for　Ruby's　an　angel。〃



〃I　wish　I　were　rid　of　him；　anyhow；〃　said　his　father；　〃for　he　weighs

heavy　on　my　mind。〃



〃No　wonder；　father：　　he's　so　fat；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃But　you　needn't

be　afraid；　for　everybody　says　he's　in　better　condition　than　when　you

had　him。〃



〃Yes；　but　he　may　be　as　thin　as　a　tin　horse　before　his　owner　comes。　

It　was　too　bad　to　leave　him　on　my　hands　this　way。〃



〃Perhaps　he　couldn't　help　it；〃　suggested　Diamond。　　〃I　daresay　he

has　some　good　reason　for　it。〃



〃So　I　should　have　said；〃　returned　his　father；　〃if　he　had　not　driven

such　a　hard　bargain　with　me　at　first。〃



〃But　we　don't　know　what　may　come　of　it　yet；　husband；〃　said　his　wife。　

〃Mr。　Raymond　may　give　a　little　to　boot；　seeing　you've　had　more　of

the　bargain　than　you　wanted　or　reckoned　upon。〃



〃I'm　afraid　not：