《黑骏马》第5章暴风雨(4)

We were very close to drowning in that river，John，he said．

我们只差一点儿就淹死在河里了，约翰。他说。

Men may be clever enough to think of things for them-selves，but animals know things without thinking，and thats often saved a mans life，as it has ours tonight．

人们为自己考虑的时候挺聪明，可是，动物根本用不着考虑就能知道，这经常能救人一命，就像今晚救了我们！

People dont realize how wonderful their animals are，nor do they make friends with them as they should．

人们不知道他们的动物有多棒。本应和动物交朋友，可是他们没有。

When we arrived back at Birtwick Park，the mistress¹ ran out to meet us．Ive been so worried！she said．Are you all right？ Did you have an accident？

到家了，女主人跑出来迎接我们。我担了好大的心！她说，你们都好吗？没出什么事吧？

We nearly did，said my master．But Black Beauty was cleverer than we were，and saved us all from drowning！

差点儿！主人说，但是黑骏马比我们聪明，他使我们没被淹死！

One morning early in December，the master came to the stable² with a letter in his hand，looking very serious．

12月初的一个清早，主人拿着一封信来到马厩，表情严肃。

Good morning，John，he said．Tell me，does James work hard and do what you tell him to do？

早，约翰，他说。告诉我，詹姆斯工作认真吗？他听你吩咐吗？

Yes，sir， always，replied John．

是啊，先生，他一直这样。约翰回答。

And he doesnt stop work when your back is turned？

你不在，他也不偷懒吗？

Never，sir．

从不，先生。

And if he goes out with the horses，does he stop to talk to friends，or go into houses where he has no business，leaving the horses outside？said the master．

如果赶马出去，他会停下来和朋友聊天，或是把马丢在外面而他去乱串门儿吗？主人问。

1 mistress   

n.（文学用语）使男子为之倾倒的女人，女主人

参考例句：

• Does his wife know he has a mistress?他的妻子知道他有一个情妇吗？
• Is your mistress at home?你家女主人在家吗？

2 stable   

adj.稳定的；稳固的

参考例句：

• I'm glad she has become such a stable character.我很高兴她变得如此沉稳。
• This chair isn't very stable.这把椅子不大稳固。