Скотный двор

           Itwasaclearspringevening. Thegrassandtheburstinghedgesweregildedbythelevelraysofthesun. Neverhadthefarm—andwithakindofsurprisetheyrememberedthatitwastheirownfarm,everyinchofittheirownproperty—appearedtotheanimalssodesirableaplace. AsCloverlookeddownthehillsidehereyesfilledwithtears. Ifshecouldhavespokenherthoughts,itwouldhavebeentosaythatthiswasnotwhattheyhadaimedatwhentheyhadsetthemselvesyearsagotoworkfortheoverthrowofthehumanrace. ThesescenesofterrorandslaughterwerenotwhattheyhadlookedforwardtoonthatnightwhenoldMajorfirststirredthemtorebellion. Ifsheherselfhadhadanypictureofthefuture,ithadbeenofasocietyofanimalssetfreefromhungerandthewhip,allequal,eachworkingaccordingtohiscapacity,thestrongprotectingtheweak,asshehadprotectedthelostbroodofducklingswithherforelegonthenightofMajor’sspeech. Instead—shedidnotknowwhy—theyhadcometoatimewhennoonedaredspeakhismind,whenfierce,growlingdogsroamedeverywhere,andwhenyouhadtowatchyourcomradestorntopiecesafterconfessingtoshockingcrimes. Therewasnothoughtofrebellionordisobedienceinhermind. Sheknewthat,evenasthingswere,theywerefarbetteroffthantheyhadbeeninthedaysofJones,andthatbeforeallelseitwasneedfultopreventthereturnofthehumanbeings. Whateverhappenedshewouldremainfaithful,workhard,carryouttheordersthatweregiventoher,andaccepttheleadershipofNapoleon. Butstill,itwasnotforthisthatsheandalltheotheranimalshadhopedandtoiled. ItwasnotforthisthattheyhadbuiltthewindmillandfacedthebulletsofJones’sgun. Suchwereherthoughts,thoughshelackedthewordstoexpressthem. 

           Atlast,feelingthistobeinsomewayasubstituteforthewordsshewasunabletofind,shebegantosing‘BeastsofEngland’.