Ветер в ивах

           Taketheadventure,heedthecall,noweretheirrevocablemomentpasses!’Tisbutabangingofthedoorbehindyou,ablithesomestepforward,andyouareoutoftheoldlifeandintothenew!Thensomeday,somedaylonghence,joghomehereifyouwill,whenthecuphasbeendrainedandtheplayhasbeenplayed,andsitdownbyyourquietriverwithastoreofgoodlymemoriesforcompany.Youcaneasilyovertakemeontheroad,foryouareyoung,andIamageingandgosoftly.Iwilllinger,andlookback;andatlastIwillsurelyseeyoucoming,eagerandlight-hearted,withalltheSouthinyourface!"

           Thevoicediedawayandceasedasaninsect’stinytrumpetdwindlesswiftlyintosilence;andtheWaterRat,paralysedandstaring,sawatlastbutadistantspeckonthewhitesurfaceoftheroad.

           Mechanicallyheroseandproceededtorepacktheluncheon-basket,carefullyandwithouthaste.Mechanicallyhereturnedhome,gatheredtogetherafewsmallnecessariesandspecialtreasureshewasfondof,andputtheminasatchel;actingwithslowdeliberation,movingabouttheroomlikeasleep-walker;listeningeverwithpartedlips.Heswungthesatcheloverhisshoulder,carefullyselectedastoutstickforhiswayfaring,andwithnohaste,butwithnohesitationatall,hesteppedacrossthethresholdjustastheMoleappearedatthedoor.

           "Why,whereareyouoffto,Ratty?"askedtheMoleingreatsurprise,graspinghimbythearm.