Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.
This is your time and your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 22 Earl Shaw The next morning after breakfast,
Joe put merry legs into the mistress's low chaise to take him to the vicarage.
He came first and said goodbye to us and merry legs neighed to us from the yard.
Then John put the saddle on Ginger and the leading rein on me and rode us across the country about 15 miles to Earl Shaw Park,
Where an Earl lived.
This was a very fine house and a great deal of stabling.
We went into the yard through a stone gateway and John asked for Mr York.
It was some time before he came.
He was a fine looking middle aged man and his voice said at once he expected to be obeyed.
He was very friendly and polite to John and after giving us a slight look,
He called a room to take us to our boxes and invited John to take some refreshment.
We were taken to a light airy stable and placed in boxes adjoining each other where we were rubbed down and fed and in about half an hour John and Mr York,
Who was to be our new coachman,
Came in to see us.
Now Mr Manly,
He said after carefully looking us up and down,
I can see no fault but we know that horses have their peculiarities as well as men and sometimes they need different treatment.
I would like to know if there's anything particular in either of these you would like to mention.
Well,
Said John,
I don't believe there's a better pair of horses in this country and right grieved I am to part with them,
But they're not alike.
The black one's the most perfect temper I ever knew.
I suppose he's never known a hard word or blow since he was foaled and all his pleasure seems to be to do what you wish,
But a chestnut I fancy might have had bad treatment.
We heard as much from the dealer.
She came to us snappish and suspicious but when she found out what sort of place ours was,
It all went off by degrees.
For three years I've never seen the smallest sign of temper.
If she has an irritable constitution,
Flies would tease her more and anything wrong in the harness would fret her more.
If she were ill-used or unfairly treated,
She would not be unlikely to give tit for tat you know.
Many high-metalled horses will do so.
Of course,
Said York,
I quite understand,
But you know it's not easy in stables like these to have all the grooms just what they should be.
Now I'll do my best and there I'll leave it.
I remember what you said about the mare.
They were going out of the stable when John stopped and added,
I'd better mention we've never used the Czech Reign with either of them.
The black horse never had one on and the dealer said it was the gag bit that spoilt the other ones.
Well,
Said York,
If they come here,
They must wear the Czech Reign.
I prefer a loose rein myself and this lordship's always been very reasonable.
But my lady,
Well,
That's another thing.
She will have style above all else.
If our carriage horses are not reined up tight,
She wouldn't even look at them.
I always stand out against the gag bit and I shall continue to do so.
But when my lady rides,
It must be tight.
I'm sorry for it,
Very sorry,
Said John.
I'll have to go now or I'll surely lose the train.
Then he came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time.
His voice sounded very sad.
I held my face close to him.
That was all I could do to say goodbye.
And then when he was gone,
I knew I would never see him again.
The next day,
The lord came in to look at us and seemed pleased with our appearance.
I have great confidence in these horses,
He said.
From the carriage to my friend Mr Gordon's given me,
Of course I know they're not a match in colour.
But my idea is they'll do very well for the carriage when we're in the country.
Before we go to London,
I must try to match Baron,
The black horse.
I believe he's perfect for riding.
York then told him what John said about us.
Hmm,
Well,
He said,
Keep an eye on the mayor and put the check reign on easy.
I dare say they'll do very well with a little humouring at first.
And I'll mention it to the lady.
In the afternoon,
We were harnessed and put in the carriage.
As the stable clock struck three,
We were led round to the front of the house.
It was all very grand and three or four times as large as the old house at Birtwick.
But it was not half so pleasant,
If a horse may have an opinion.
Two footmen were standing ready,
Dressed in drab livery,
With scarlet breeches and white stockings.
And presently we heard the russing sound of silk as my lady came down the flight of stone steps.
She was a tall,
Proud-looking woman and did not seem pleased about something.
But she said nothing and got into the carriage.
This was my first time of wearing a check reign.
And I must say,
Though it certainly was a nuisance not to be able to get my head down now and then,
It did not pull my head higher than I was accustomed to carry it.
I was,
Nevertheless,
Anxious about Ginger,
But she seemed to be quiet and content.
The next day at three o'clock,
We were again at the door,
And the footmen as before.
We heard the silk-dressed rustle and the lady come down the steps,
And an imperious voice said,
York,
You must put these horses' heads higher.
They are not fit to be seen.
So York got down and said respectfully,
I beg your pardon,
My lady,
But these horses have not been reigned up for years.
My lord said it would be safer to bring them to it by degrees,
But if your ladyship pleases,
I can take them up a little more.
Then do so,
She said.
York came round to our heads and shortened the reign himself.
One hole,
I think.
Every little makes a difference,
Be it for better or worse,
He said,
And on that day we had a steep hill to go up.
I began to understand then what I had heard of.
I wanted to put my head forward and take the carriage up with a wheel as we'd been used to,
But now I had to pull with my head up,
And that took all the spirit out of me.
The strain came on my back and legs,
And when we came in,
Ginger said,
Now you see what it's like?
It's not bad.
If it doesn't get much worse than this,
I'll say nothing about it,
For we are well treated here,
But if they strain me up tight,
Let them look out.
I can't bear it,
You know,
And I won't.
Day by day,
Hole by hole,
Our bearing reigns were shortened.
Now,
Instead of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness put on as I used to,
I began to dread it.
Ginger,
Too,
Seemed restless,
Although now she said very little.
At last I thought the worse was over.
For several days there was no more shortening,
And I determined to make the best of it and do my duty.
But it was a constant harass instead of a pleasure,
And the worst was not yet come.
