Вітер у вербах
Wayfarers All
Thewayfarerwasleanandkeen-featured,andsomewhatbowedattheshoulders;hispawswerethinandlong,hiseyesmuchwrinkledatthecorners,andheworesmallgoldearringsinhisneatly-setwell-shapedears.Hisknittedjerseywasofafadedblue,hisbreeches,patchedandstained,werebasedonabluefoundation,andhissmallbelongingsthathecarriedweretiedupinabluecottonhandkerchief.
Whenhehadrestedawhilethestrangersighed,snuffedtheair,andlookedabouthim.
"Thatwasclover,thatwarmwhiffonthebreeze,"heremarked;"andthosearecowswehearcroppingthegrassbehindusandblowingsoftlybetweenmouthfuls.Thereisasoundofdistantreapers,andyonderrisesabluelineofcottagesmokeagainstthewoodland.Theriverrunssomewherecloseby,forIhearthecallofamoorhen,andIseebyyourbuildthatyou’reafreshwatermariner.Everythingseemsasleep,andyetgoingonallthetime.Itisagoodlylifethatyoulead,friend;nodoubtthebestintheworld,ifonlyyouarestrongenoughtoleadit!"
"Yes,it’sthelife,theonlylife,tolive,"respondedtheWaterRatdreamily,andwithouthisusualwhole-heartedconviction.
"Ididnotsayexactlythat,"repliedthestrangercautiously;"butnodoubtit’sthebest.I’vetriedit,andIknow.
