He was inconsolable at the thoughts of parting with so good a master, who treated him more like an intimate friend than a servant; but the pleasure of being able to do him a service soon got the better of his sorrow.
Il était au désespoir de se séparer d'un bon maître devenu son ami intime; mais le plaisir de lui être utile l'emporta sur la douleur de le quitter.