Вітер у вербах

           Badgerhe’sakind-heartedgentleman,aseveryoneknows—"

           "Iunderstand,"saidtheRat,cuttinghimselfsomerashersfromasideofbacon,whiletheMoledroppedsomeeggsintoasaucepan."Andwhat’stheweatherlikeoutside?Youneedn’t‘sir’mequitesomuch,"headded.

           "O,terriblebad,sir,terribledeepthesnowis,"saidthehedgehog."Nogettingoutforthelikesofyougentlemento-day."

           "Where’sMr.Badger?"inquiredtheMoleashewarmedthecoffee-potbeforethefire.

           "Themaster’sgoneintohisstudy,sir,"repliedthehedgehog,"andhesaidashowhewasgoingtobeparticularbusythismorning,andonnoaccountwashetobedisturbed."

           Thisexplanation,ofcourse,wasthoroughlyunderstoodbyeveryonepresent.Thefactis,asalreadysetforth,whenyoulivealifeofintenseactivityforsixmonthsintheyear,andofcomparativeoractualsomnolencefortheothersix,duringthelatterperiodyoucannotbecontinuallypleadingsleepinesswhentherearepeopleaboutorthingstobedone.Theexcusegetsmonotonous.TheanimalswellknewthatBadger,havingeatenaheartybreakfast,hadretiredtohisstudyandsettledhimselfinanarm-chairwithhislegsuponanotherandaredcottonhandkerchiefoverhisface,andwasbeing"busy"intheusualwayatthistimeoftheyear.