BLACK BEAUTY

by Anna Sewell

CHAPTER IX

EARLSHALL

The next morning after breakfast, Joe put Merrylegs into the mistress' low chaise to take him to the vicarage; he came first and said good-bye to us, and Merrylegs neighed to us from the yard. Then John put the saddle on Ginger and the leading rein on me, and rode us across the country to Earlshall Park, where the Earl of W---- lived. There was a  very fine house and a great deal of stabling. We went into the yard  through a stone gateway, and John asked for Mr. York. It was some time  before he came. He was a fine-looking, middle-aged man, and his voice  said at once that he expected to be obeyed. He was very friendly and  polite to John, and after giving us a slight look, he called a groom to  take us to our boxes, and invited John to take some refreshment.

We were taken to a light, airy stable, and placed in boxes adjoining  each other, where we were rubbed down and fed. In about half an hour  John and York, who was to be our new coachman, came in to see us.

"Now, Manly," he said, after carefully looking at us both, "I can see no  fault in these horses; but we all know that horses have their  peculiarities as well as men, and that sometimes they need different  treatment. I should like to know if there is anything particular in   either of these that you would like to mention."

"Well," said John, "I don't believe there is a better pair of horses in  the country, and right grieved I am to part with them, but they are not  alike. The black one is the most perfect temper I ever knew; I suppose  he has never known a hard word or blow since he was foaled, and all his pleasure seems to be to do what you wish; but the chestnut, I fancy,  must have had bad treatment; we heard as much from the dealer. She came  to us snappish and suspicious, but when she found what sort of place  ours was, it all went off by degrees; for three years I have never seen  the smallest sign of temper, and if she is well treated there is not a  better, more willing animal than she is. But she has naturally a more irritable constitution than the black horse; flies tease her more;  anything wrong in her harness frets her more; and if she were ill-used or unfairly treated she would not be unlikely to give tit for tat. You  know that many high-mettled horses will do so."

"Of course," said York, "I quite understand; but you know it is not easy in  stables like these to have all the grooms just what they should be. I do my best, and there I must leave it. I'll remember what you have said  about the mare." They were going out of the stable, when John stopped, and said, "I had better mention that we have never used the check-rein  with either of them; the black horse never had one on, and the dealer  said it was the gag-bit that spoiled the other's temper."

"Well," said York, "if they come here, they must wear the check-rein. I  prefer a loose rein myself, and his lordship is always very reasonable  about horses; but my lady--that's another thing; she will have style,  and if her carriage horses are not reined up tight she wouldn't look at  them. I always stand out against the gag-bit, and shall do so, but it  must be  tight up when my lady rides!"

"I am sorry for it," said John; "but I must go now, or I shall lose the  train."

He came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time;  his voice sounded very sad. I held my face close to him; that was all I  could do to say good-bye; and then he was gone, and I  have never seen  him since.

The next day Lord W---- came to look at us; he seemed pleased with our  appearance. "I have great confidence in these horses," he said, "from  the character my friend Gordon has given me of them. Of course they are  not a match in color, but my idea is that they will do very well for the  carriage while we are in the country. Before we go to London I must try  to match Baron; the black horse, I believe, is perfect for riding."

York then told him what John had said about us.

"Well," said he, "you must keep an eye to the mare, and put the  check-rein easy; I dare say they will do very well with a little  humoring at first. I'll mention it to your lady."

In the afternoon we were harnessed and put in the carriage and led round  to the front of the house. It was all very grand, and three times as  large as the old house at Birtwick, but not half so pleasant, if a horse  may have an opinion. Two footmen were standing ready, dressed in drab livery, with scarlet breeches and white stockings. Presently we heard  the rustling sound of silk as my lady came down the flight of stone steps. She stepped round to look at us; she was a tall, proud-looking  woman, and did not seem pleased about something, but she said nothing, and got into the carriage. This was the first time of wearing a  check-rein, and I must say, though it certainly was a nuisance not to be  able to get my head down now and then, it did not pull my head higher  than I was accustomed to carry it. I felt anxious about Ginger, but she  seemed to be quiet and content.

The next day we were again at the door, and the footmen as before; we  heard the silk dress rustle, and the lady came down the steps, and in an  imperious voice, she said, "York, you must put those horses' heads  higher, they are not fit to be seen."

York got down, and said very respectfully, "I beg your pardon, my lady,  but these horses have not been reined up for three years, and my lord  said it would be safer to bring them to it by degrees; but, if your  ladyship pleases, I can take them up a little more."  "Do so," she said.

York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole, I  think. Every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and  that day we had a steep hill to go up. Then I began to understand what I  had heard of. Of course, I wanted to put my head forward and take the  carriage up with a will as we had been used to do; but no, I had to pull  with my head up now, and that took all the spirit out of me, and the strain came on my back and legs. When we came in, Ginger said, "Now you  see what it is like; but this is not bad, and if it does not get much worse than this I shall say nothing about it, for we are very well  treated here; but if they strain me up tight, why, let 'em look out! I  can't bear it, and I won't."

Day by day, hole by hole, our bearing-reins were shortened, and instead  of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness put on, as I used to do, I began to dread it. Ginger too seemed restless, though she said  very little. The worst was yet to come.

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