《黑骏马》第9章 事故和新主人(5)

And so that summer I was sold to Mr Barry．

于是，那个夏天我被卖给了白利先生。

Mr Barry knew very little about horses but he hired a com-fortable stable¹ for me，and a man called Filcher² to look after me．

白利先生不懂马，但他为我租了一个很舒适的马厩，还雇了一个叫费舍尔的马夫照料我。

He ordered the best oats，and plenty of other good food for me to eat，too．

他还买最好的燕麦及其他好东西给我吃。

For a while all went well，but then there seemed to be fewer oats and more grass in my meals．

开始时一切顺利，但是接下来，似乎饭里的燕麦少了，而草多了。

The grass food，though very good，was not enough to keep me strong and healthy．

就算很好的草料也不足以使我保持强壮和健康。

However，I could not say anything and it went on for about two months．

但是我不会说话。这种状况持续了大约两个月。

Then one afternoon my master rode into the country to see a friend—a gentleman farmer who knew about horses，and who looked very closely³ at me．

一天下午我的主人骑我下乡去看一个朋友—一个懂马的农场主，他仔细地看了看我。

'Your horse doesn't look as well as he did when you first had him，Barry,he said，feeling my neck and shoulders．'See how wet and warm he is—after just a gentle ride！

你的马看上去可不如刚买的时候了，白利，他摸摸我的脖子和肩膀说。看它累得又湿又热—只不过稍微骑了这么一会儿！

My groom⁴ says that horses are never in good condition in the autumn，said my master．

我的马夫说，马匹在秋天时状态都不好，我的主人说。

But this is only August！said the farmer．With your light work and the good food，he shouldn't be like this．

可是这只是8月份呀！农夫说，你的活儿又轻，料又好，他不该是这副样子。

1 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。

2 filcher   

小偷

参考例句：

3 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

4 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。