Вітер у вербах

           TheMolehadslippedoffsomewherebyhimself,withouttellinganyonewherehewasgoingto.TheBadgersatinthearm-chair,readingthepaper,andnotconcerninghimselfintheslightestaboutwhatwasgoingtohappenthatveryevening.TheRat,ontheotherhand,wasrunningroundtheroombusily,withhisarmsfullofweaponsofeverykind,distributingtheminfourlittleheapsonthefloor,andsayingexcitedlyunderhisbreath,asheran,"Here’s-a-sword-for-the-Rat,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Mole,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Toad,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Badger!Here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Rat,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Mole,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Toad,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Badger!"Andsoon,inaregular,rhythmicalway,whilethefourlittleheapsgraduallygrewandgrew.

           "That’sallverywell,Rat,"saidtheBadgerpresently,lookingatthebusylittleanimalovertheedgeofhisnewspaper;"I’mnotblamingyou.Butjustletusoncegetpastthestoats,withthosedetestablegunsoftheirs,andIassureyouweshan’twantanyswordsorpistols.Wefour,withoursticks,oncewe’reinsidethedining-hall,why,weshallclearthefloorofallthelotoftheminfiveminutes.I’dhavedonethewholethingbymyself,onlyIdidn’twanttodepriveyoufellowsofthefun!"

           "It’saswelltobeonthesafeside,"saidtheRatreflectively,polishingapistol-barrelonhissleeveandlookingalongit.