Дні мрій
A Departure
Sunriseandsunset,andthedinner-bell,andthesuddenrainbow,andlessons,andLeotard,andthemoonthroughthenurserywindows—theywereallpartofthegreatorderofthings,andthedisplacementofanyoneitemseemedtodisorganizethewholemachinery.Theimmediatepointwas,notthattheworldwouldcontinuetogoroundasofold,butthatLeotardwouldn’t.
Yondercorner,nowsweptandgarnished,hadbeenthestallwhereinthespottyhorse,atthecloseofeachlaboriousday,wasaccustomedtodozepeacefullythelongnightthrough.Indaysofoldeachofusinturnhadbeenjerkedthrillinglyroundtheroomonhisprecariousback,haddugourheelsintohisunyieldingsides,andhadscratchedourhandsonthetintacksthatsecuredhismanetohisstiffly-curvingneck.Later,withincreasingstature,wecametooverlookhismeritsasabeastofburden;buthowfrankly,howgood-naturedly,hehadrecognizedthenewconditions,andadaptedhimselftothemwithoutamurmur!
Whenthemilitaryspiritwasabroad,whosoreadytobeasquadronofcavalry,ahordeofCossacks,orartillerypoundingintoposition?Hehadevenservedwithhonourasagun-boat,duringaperiodwhennavalstrategywastheonlytheme;andnofalseequineprideeverhinderedhimfromtakingthepartofaroaringlocomotive,earth-shaking,clangorous,annihilatingtimeandspace.Reallyitwasnolongerclearhowlife,withitsmanifoldemergencies,wastobecarriedonatallwithoutafellowlikethespottyhorse,readytostepinatcriticalmomentsandtakeupjustthepartrequiredofhim.
