Ветер в ивах

           Ifwehavetocome,wecomeincouplesatleast;thenwe’regenerallyallright.Besides,thereareahundredthingsonehastoknow,whichweunderstandallaboutandyoudon’t,asyet.Imeanpasswords,andsigns,andsayingswhichhavepowerandeffect,andplantsyoucarryinyourpocket,andversesyourepeat,anddodgesandtricksyoupractise;allsimpleenoughwhenyouknowthem,butthey’vegottobeknownifyou’resmall,oryou’llfindyourselfintrouble.OfcourseifyouwereBadgerorOtter,itwouldbequiteanothermatter."

           "SurelythebraveMr.Toadwouldn’tmindcomingherebyhimself,wouldhe?"inquiredtheMole.

           "OldToad?"saidtheRat,laughingheartily."Hewouldn’tshowhisfaceherealone,notforawholehatfulofgoldenguineas,Toadwouldn’t."

           TheMolewasgreatlycheeredbythesoundoftheRat’scarelesslaughter,aswellasbythesightofhisstickandhisgleamingpistols,andhestoppedshiveringandbegantofeelbolderandmorehimselfagain.

           "Nowthen,"saidtheRatpresently,"wereallymustpullourselvestogetherandmakeastartforhomewhilethere’sstillalittlelightleft.Itwillneverdotospendthenighthere,youunderstand.Toocold,foronething."

           "DearRatty,"saidthepoorMole,"I’mdreadfullysorry,butI’msimplydeadbeatandthat’sasolidfact.Youmustletmeresthereawhilelonger,andgetmystrengthback,ifI’mtogethomeatall.