Скотный двор
Chapter 2
Thentheyfiledbacktothefarmbuildingsandhaltedinsilenceoutsidethedoorofthefarmhouse. Thatwastheirstoo,buttheywerefrightenedtogoinside. Afteramoment,however,SnowballandNapoleonbuttedthedooropenwiththeirshouldersandtheanimalsenteredinsinglefile,walkingwiththeutmostcareforfearofdisturbinganything. Theytiptoedfromroomtoroom,afraidtospeakaboveawhisperandgazingwithakindofaweattheunbelievableluxury,atthebedswiththeirfeathermattresses,thelooking-glasses,thehorsehairsofa,theBrusselscarpet,thelithographofQueenVictoriaoverthedrawing-roommantelpiece. TheywerelustcomingdownthestairswhenMolliewasdiscoveredtobemissing. Goingback,theothersfoundthatshehadremainedbehindinthebestbedroom. ShehadtakenapieceofblueribbonfromMrs.Jones’sdressing-table,andwasholdingitagainsthershoulderandadmiringherselfintheglassinaveryfoolishmanner. Theothersreproachedhersharply,andtheywentoutside. Somehamshanginginthekitchenweretakenoutforburial,andthebarrelofbeerinthescullerywasstoveinwithakickfromBoxer’shoof,otherwisenothinginthehousewastouched. Aunanimousresolutionwaspassedonthespotthatthefarmhouseshouldbepreservedasamuseum. Allwereagreedthatnoanimalmusteverlivethere.
Theanimalshadtheirbreakfast,andthenSnowballandNapoleoncalledthemtogetheragain.
"Comrades,"saidSnowball,"itishalf-pastsixandwehavealongdaybeforeus. Todaywebeginthehayharvest. Butthereisanothermatterthatmustbeattendedtofirst."
ThepigsnowrevealedthatduringthepastthreemonthstheyhadtaughtthemselvestoreadandwritefromanoldspellingbookwhichhadbelongedtoMr.Jones’schildrenandwhichhadbeenthrownontherubbishheap.
