A Widow, thrifty and industrious, had two servants, whom she kept pretty hard at work.They were not allowed to lie long abed in the mornings, but the old lady had them up and doing as soon as the cock crew.They disliked intensely having to get up at such an hour, especially in winter-time: and they thought that if it were not for the cock waking up their Mistress so horribly early, they could sleep longer.So they caught it and wrung its neck.But they weren't prepared for the consequences.For what happened was that their Mistress, not hearing the cock crow as usual, waked them up earlier than ever, and set them to work in the middle of the night.
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A Widow, thrifty and industrious, had two servants, whom she kept pretty hard at work.
倹約家で勤勉な未亡人には2人の使用人がいて、彼女はかなり一生懸命働きました。
They were not allowed to lie long abed in the mornings, but the old lady had them up and doing as soon as the cock crew.
彼らは朝長い間寝たきりになることを許されなかったが、老婦人はそれらを立ち上げて、コックの乗組員がいるとすぐにそれをしました。
They disliked intensely having to get up at such an hour, especially in winter-time: and they thought that if it were not for the cock waking up their Mistress so horribly early, they could sleep longer.
彼らは、特に冬の間、そのような時間に起きなければならないことを激しく嫌いました：そして、コックがミストレスをひどく早く目覚めさせなければ、彼らはもっと長く眠ることができると考えました。
So they caught it and wrung its neck.
それで彼らはそれを捕まえて首を絞めました。
But they weren't prepared for the consequences.
しかし、彼らは結果の準備ができていませんでした。
For what happened was that their Mistress, not hearing the cock crow as usual, waked them up earlier than ever, and set them to work in the middle of the night.
何が起こったのかというと、彼らの愛人はいつものようにカラスの鳴き声を聞かず、今までより早く目覚めさせ、真夜中に働くように彼らを仕向けたのです。
