Вітер у вербах

           Helookedkindlydownonthemandpattedboththeirheads."Thisisnotthesortofnightforsmallanimalstobeout,"hesaidpaternally."I’mafraidyou’vebeenuptosomeofyourpranksagain,Ratty.Butcomealong;comeintothekitchen.There’safirst-ratefirethere,andsupperandeverything."

           Heshuffledoninfrontofthem,carryingthelight,andtheyfollowedhim,nudgingeachotherinananticipatingsortofway,downalong,gloomy,and,totellthetruth,decidedlyshabbypassage,intoasortofacentralhall,outofwhichtheycoulddimlyseeotherlongtunnel-likepassagesbranching,passagesmysteriousandwithoutapparentend.Butthereweredoorsinthehallaswell—stoutoaken,comfortable-lookingdoors.OneofthesetheBadgerflungopen,andatoncetheyfoundthemselvesinalltheglowandwarmthofalargefire-litkitchen.

           Thefloorwaswell-wornredbrick,andonthewidehearthburntafireoflogs,betweentwoattractivechimney-cornerstuckedawayinthewall,welloutofanysuspicionofdraught.Acoupleofhigh-backedsettles,facingeachotheroneithersideofthefire,gavefurthersittingaccommodationsforthesociablydisposed.Inthemiddleoftheroomstoodalongtableofplainboardsplacedontrestles,withbenchesdowneachside.Atoneendofit,whereanarm-chairstoodpushedback,werespreadtheremainsoftheBadger’splainbutamplesupper.