Ветер в ивах

           Verythoughtlessofhim,Icallit.WhenIgethomeIshallgoandcomplainaboutitto—tosomebodyorother,seeifIdon’t!"

           "O,dear!O,dear!"criedtheRat,indespairathisobtuseness."Here,stoparguingandcomeandscrape!"Andhesettoworkagainandmadethesnowflyinalldirectionsaroundhim.

           Aftersomefurthertoilhiseffortswererewarded,andaveryshabbydoor-matlayexposedtoview.

           "There,whatdidItellyou?"exclaimedtheRatingreattriumph.

           "Absolutelynothingwhatever,"repliedtheMole,withperfecttruthfulness."Well,now,"hewenton,"youseemtohavefoundanotherpieceofdomesticlitter,doneforandthrownaway,andIsupposeyou’reperfectlyhappy.Bettergoaheadanddanceyourjigroundthatifyou’vegotto,andgetitover,andthenperhapswecangoonandnotwasteanymoretimeoverrubbish-heaps.Canweeatadoor-mat?Orsleepunderadoor-mat?Orsitonadoor-matandsledgehomeoverthesnowonit,youexasperatingrodent?"

           "Do—you—mean—to—say,"criedtheexcitedRat,"thatthisdoor-matdoesn’ttellyouanything?"

           "Really,Rat,"saidtheMole,quitepettishly,"Ithinkwe’vehadenoughofthisfolly.Whoeverheardofadoor-mattellinganyoneanything?Theysimplydon’tdoit.Theyarenotthatsortatall.Door-matsknowtheirplace.