《黑骏马》第9章 事故和新主人(1)

Chapter 9 The accident and new masters

第9章 事故和新主人

Aman called Reuben Smith looked after us while York was in London．He was gentle and clever with horses，and an excellent driver．

一个叫鲁宾·史密斯的男人在约克去伦敦的时候照料我们。他对马态度温和，为人聪明，是个好车夫。

But he had one fault—he sometimes drank too much．

可是他有一个缺点：有时酒喝得太多。

For weeks or months he was all right，but then without warning he would begin to drink heavily and be－have badly．

几个星期或几个月他都很正常，然而突然间他就会开始酗酒，行为也变得粗鲁。

But he was a useful man so York had kept quiet about Smith's drinking，saying nothing to Lord Gray．

但他基本上还是个能干的人，所以约克对他酗酒的事一直保持沉默，没对格雷勋爵说过什么。

Then one night Smith drove some ladies and gentlemen home from a party and was so drunk that he could not hold the reins¹．

一天晚上，史密斯送一些女士和先生们从舞会回家，可他醉得不成样子，连缰绳都抓不住了。

York could not hide this and Lord Gray told Smith to leave．

约克这回没法再帮他隐瞒，于是格雷勋爵把他辞了。

However，some time later，York spoke² again to Lord Gray，who was very kind－hearted，and he took，Reuben Smith back．

可是，没过多久，约克又对格雷先生说情，好心的格雷先生答应让鲁宾·史密斯回来。

Smith promised never to get drunk again and kept his promise，and because of this he was told to look after the stables while York was away．

史密斯答应再也不喝醉了。由于他遵守誓言，约克不在时，他就被叫去看守马厩。

One day the carriage needed some repairs so it was arranged that Smith would take it to town，leave it at the carriage-maker's，and then ride me back again．

一天马车需要进行些修理，史密斯就被叫去赶车进城，把车放到造车厂，再骑我回来。

Mr Blantyre wanted to go to the station，so he went with us．

布兰太尔先生想去车站，所以他和我们一起走。

1 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。