Вітер у вербах
Wayfarers All
Taketheadventure,heedthecall,noweretheirrevocablemomentpasses!’Tisbutabangingofthedoorbehindyou,ablithesomestepforward,andyouareoutoftheoldlifeandintothenew!Thensomeday,somedaylonghence,joghomehereifyouwill,whenthecuphasbeendrainedandtheplayhasbeenplayed,andsitdownbyyourquietriverwithastoreofgoodlymemoriesforcompany.Youcaneasilyovertakemeontheroad,foryouareyoung,andIamageingandgosoftly.Iwilllinger,andlookback;andatlastIwillsurelyseeyoucoming,eagerandlight-hearted,withalltheSouthinyourface!"
Thevoicediedawayandceasedasaninsect’stinytrumpetdwindlesswiftlyintosilence;andtheWaterRat,paralysedandstaring,sawatlastbutadistantspeckonthewhitesurfaceoftheroad.
Mechanicallyheroseandproceededtorepacktheluncheon-basket,carefullyandwithouthaste.Mechanicallyhereturnedhome,gatheredtogetherafewsmallnecessariesandspecialtreasureshewasfondof,andputtheminasatchel;actingwithslowdeliberation,movingabouttheroomlikeasleep-walker;listeningeverwithpartedlips.Heswungthesatcheloverhisshoulder,carefullyselectedastoutstickforhiswayfaring,andwithnohaste,butwithnohesitationatall,hesteppedacrossthethresholdjustastheMoleappearedatthedoor.
"Why,whereareyouoffto,Ratty?"askedtheMoleingreatsurprise,graspinghimbythearm.
