Ветер в ивах
Mr. Badger
Youwon’twantanydinnerto-day,I’llbebound."
Hegavethemsixpencea-pieceandapatonthehead,andtheywentoffwithmuchrespectfulswingingofcapsandtouchingofforelocks.
Presentlytheyallsatdowntoluncheontogether.TheMolefoundhimselfplacednexttoMr.Badger,and,astheothertwowerestilldeepinriver-gossipfromwhichnothingcoulddivertthem,hetooktheopportunitytotellBadgerhowcomfortableandhome-likeitallfelttohim."Oncewellunderground,"hesaid,"youknowexactlywhereyouare.Nothingcanhappentoyou,andnothingcangetatyou.You’reentirelyyourownmaster,andyoudon’thavetoconsultanybodyormindwhattheysay.Thingsgoonallthesameoverhead,andyoulet’em,anddon’tbotherabout’em.Whenyouwantto,upyougo,andtherethethingsare,waitingforyou."
TheBadgersimplybeamedonhim."That’sexactlywhatIsay,"hereplied."There’snosecurity,orpeaceandtranquillity,exceptunderground.Andthen,ifyourideasgetlargerandyouwanttoexpand—why,adigandascrape,andthereyouare!Ifyoufeelyourhouseisabittoobig,youstopupaholeortwo,andthereyouareagain!Nobuilders,notradesmen,noremarkspassedonyoubyfellowslookingoveryourwall,and,aboveall,noweather.LookatRat,now.Acoupleoffeetoffloodwater,andhe’sgottomoveintohiredlodgings;uncomfortable,inconvenientlysituated,andhorriblyexpensive.TakeToad.
