Вітер у вербах

           Buthisinterestinothermattersdidnotseemtorevive,andhegrewapparentlylanguidanddepressed.

           OnefinemorningtheRat,whoseturnitwastogoonduty,wentupstairstorelieveBadger,whomhefoundfidgetingtobeoffandstretchhislegsinalongrambleroundhiswoodanddownhisearthsandburrows."Toad’sstillinbed,"hetoldtheRat,outsidethedoor."Can’tgetmuchoutofhim,except,‘Oleavehimalone,hewantsnothing,perhapshe’llbebetterpresently,itmaypassoffintime,don’tbeundulyanxious,’andsoon.Now,youlookout,Rat!WhenToad’squietandsubmissive,andplayingatbeingtheheroofaSunday-schoolprize,thenhe’sathisartfullest.There’ssuretobesomethingup.Iknowhim.Well,now,Imustbeoff."

           "Howareyouto-day,oldchap?"inquiredtheRatcheerfully,asheapproachedToad’sbedside.

           Hehadtowaitsomeminutesforananswer.Atlastafeeblevoicereplied,"Thankyousomuch,dearRatty!Sogoodofyoutoinquire!Butfirsttellmehowyouareyourself,andtheexcellentMole?"

           "O,we’reallright,"repliedtheRat."Mole,"headdedincautiously,"isgoingoutforarunroundwithBadger.They’llbeouttillluncheontime,soyouandIwillspendapleasantmorningtogether,andI’lldomybesttoamuseyou.