When we arrived back at Birtwick Park，the mistress ran out to meet us．\'I\'ve been so worried！\'she said．\'Are you all right？ Did you have an accident？\'
\'We nearly did，\'said my master．\'But Black Beauty was cleverer than we were，and saved us all from drowning！\'
* * *
One morning early in December，the master came to the stable with a letter in his hand，looking very serious．
\'Good morning，John，\'he said．\'Tell me，does James work hard and do what you tell him to do？\'
\'Yes，sir， always，\'replied John．
\'And he doesn\'t stop work when your back is turned？\'
\'Never，sir．\'
\'And if he goes out with the horses，does he stop to talk to friends，or go into houses where he has no business， leaving the horses outside？\'said the master．
\'No，sir，\'said John．\'And if anybody has said that about James， I don\'t believe it．I never had a pleasanter， more honest young man in this stable．\'
The master smiled and looked across at James，who was standing by the door．\'James， I\'m glad John\'s opinion of you agrees with my own，\'he said．\'I\'ve had a letter from my wife\'s brother，Sir Clifford Williams． He wants me to find him an honest young groom who knows what he\'s doing．The man who drives his carriage is getting old and needs a young man who will work with him and be able to do his job one day．How old are you？\'
\'Nineteen next May，sir，\'said James．
\'That\'s young． What do you think，John？\'
\'It is young， sir，\'said John，\'but he\'s tall and strong． He doesn\'t have much experience of driving，but he has a light touch and a quick eye．\'
\'Well，James，\'said the master，\'talk to your mother at din-ner-time and let me know what you want to do．\'
A few days later it was agreed that James would go to Clif-ford Hall in a month or six weeks，and for the next few weeks he drove the carriage．We went in and out of town，through busy streets， and to the railway station， where the road was narrow and there were lots of other carriages hurrying to and from the station．
Then my master and mistress decided to visit some friends who lived about seventy-five kilometres from our home．\'You can drive us，James，\'said my master．
5 暴风雨
秋天的一天，主人因生意上的事得到远处的镇子上去一趟。约翰给我套上车，我们三个就上路了。雨下得很大，风也非常强劲。当我们来到河边时，水已经快涨上了木桥，大片的田野都被水淹了。在路上地势低洼的地方，水几乎没过了我的膝盖。
我们到了镇上，主人办事用了好长时间。当我们往回赶时，已是快晚上了。风更紧了，当我们穿过一片树林时，我听见主人说：“我还没在这么大的暴风雨中外出过，约翰。”的确，我也这么想呢，狂风在树林间发出那么可怕的呼啸。
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