第60章

Ihaveknownafogforafortnightatthesummersolstice，andfarmerstalkinginchurchaboutitwhentheyoughttobepraying。Butitalwayscontrivestocomerightintheend，asothervisitationsdo，ifwetakethemastruevisits，andreceivethemkindly。

NowthisfarmofSquireFaggus(ashetrulynowhadarighttobecalled)wasoftheveryfinestpasture，whenitgotgoodstoreofrain。AndTom，whohadriddentheDevonshireroadswithmanyareekingjacket，knewrightwellthathemighttrusttheclimateforthatmatter。Theherbagewasoftheverysweetest，andtheshortest，andtheclosest，havingperhapsfromtentoeighteeninchesofwholesomesoilbetweenitandthesolidrock。Tomsawatoncewhatitwasfitfor——thebreedingoffinecattle。

Beingsuchahandashewasatmakingthemostofeverything，bothhisownandotherpeople’s(althoughsofreeinscattering，whenthehumourlayuponhim)hehadactuallyturnedtohisownadvantagethatextraordinaryweatherwhichhadsoimpoverishedeveryonearoundhim。ForhetaughthisWinnie(whoknewhismeaningaswellasanychildcould，andobeyednotonlyhiswordofmouth，buteveryglancebegaveher)togoforthinthesnowyeveningswhenhorsesareseekingeverywhere(betheywildortame)forfodderandforshelter；andtowhinnytotheforestponies，milesawayfromhomeperhaps，andleadthemallwithrareappetitesandpromiseofabundance，tohermaster’shomestead。HeshodgoodWinnieinsuchamannerthatshecouldnotsinkinthesnow；andhecladherovertheloinswithasheep-skindyedtoherowncolour，whichthewildhorseswerenevertiredofcomingupandsniffingat；takingitforanespecialgift，andproofofinspiration。AndWinnienevercamehomeatnightwithoutatleastascoreofponiestrottingshylyafterher，tossingtheirheadsandtheirtailsinturn，andmakingbelievetobeverywild，althoughhardpinchedbyfamine。OfcourseTomwouldgetthemallintohispoundinaboutfiveminutes，forhehimselfcouldneighinamannerwhichwenttotheheartofthewildesthorse。Andthenhefedthemwell，andturnedthemintohisgreatcattlepen，toabidetheirtimeforbreaking，whenthesnowandfrostshouldbeover。

Hehadgottenmorethanthreehundrednow，inthissagaciousmanner；andhesaiditwasthefinestsighttoseetheirmodeofcarryingon，howtheywouldsnort，andstamp，andfume，andpricktheirears，andrushbackwards，andlashthemselveswiththeirlongroughtails，andshaketheirjaggedmanes，andscream，andfallupononeanother，ifastrangemancameanighthem。Butasforfeedingtime，Tomsaiditwasbetterthanfiftyplaystowatchthem，andthetrickstheywereupto，tocheattheirfeeders，andoneanother。I

askedhimhowonearthhehadmanagedtogetfodder，insuchimpassableweather，forsuchaherdofhorses；buthesaidthattheyliveduponstrawandsawdust；andheknewthatIdidnotbelievehim，anymorethanabouthisstar-shavings。Andthiswasjustthethingheloved——tomystifyhonestpeople，andbeagreatdealtooknowing。However，Imayjudgehimharshly，becauseImyselftelleverything。

Iaskedhimwhathemeanttodowithallthatenormouslotofhorses，andwhyhehadnotexertedhiswitstocatchthereddeeraswell。Hesaidthatthelatterwouldhavebeenagainstthelawsofvenery，andmighthavebroughthimintotrouble，butasfordisposingofhisstud，itwouldgivehimlittledifficulty。Hewouldbreakthem，whenthespringweathercameon，anddealwiththemastheyrequired，andkeepthehandsomestforbreeding。TheresthewoulddespatchtoLondon，whereheknewplentyofhorse-dealers；andhedoubtednotthattheywouldfetchhimasmuchastenpoundsapieceallround，beingnowingreatdemand。I

toldhimIwishedthathemightgetit；butasitprovedafterwards，hedid。

Thenhepressedusbothonanotherpoint，thetimeforhismarriagetoAnnie；andmotherlookedatmetosaywhen，andIlookedbackatmother。However，knowingsomethingoftheworld，andunabletomakeanyfurtherobjection，byreasonofhisprosperity，Isaidthatwemustevendoasthefashionablepeopledid，andallowthemaidherselftosettle，whenshewouldleavehomeandall。AndthisIspokewithaverybadgrace，beingperhapsofanancientcast，andoverfondofhonesty——I

mean，ofcourse，amonglowerpeople。

ButTompaid