Black Beauty: Chapter 40 Summary & Analysis

One afternoon, a shabby cab drawn by a chestnut horse pulls up beside Black Beauty. The mare is in terrible shape. She seems familiar—and then Ginger and Black Beauty recognize each other. Ginger was once beautiful, but now her neck is thin, her legs are swollen, and she’s clearly suffering and ill. Ginger explains that after a year in a meadow at Earlshall, a gentleman bought her. Her back strain returned after a long gallop, and she was then sold multiple times—and her situation got worse every time. Now, she says, a man who rents out cabs and horses owns her. That man believes Ginger is worth nothing, so the only thing to do with her is put her in a cheap cab and use her up. Her driver owes her owner lots of money every day, and there’s no rest on Sundays.

Black Beauty notes that once, Ginger defended herself when people were cruel to her. Ginger says that now, it’s no use trying. Men are strong and cruel; all she can do is bear it until she dies, hopefully soon. Black Beauty is disturbed. Ginger and her driver head out moments later, but not long after, a cart carrying a dead chestnut horse passes the cab stand. The horse’s tongue is dripping blood, its eyes are lifeless, and it has a white stripe on its forehead. Black Beauty can’t confirm that it’s Ginger, but he hopes it’s her so her suffering is over.