Вітер у вербах

           Araggedstringofwildgeesepassedoverhead,highonthegreysky,andafewrookswhirledoverthetrees,inspected,andflappedoffhomewardswithadisgustedexpression;butImetnosensiblebeingtoaskthenewsof.Abouthalf-wayacrossIcameonarabbitsittingonastump,cleaninghissillyfacewithhispaws.HewasaprettyscaredanimalwhenIcreptupbehindhimandplacedaheavyfore-pawonhisshoulder.Ihadtocuffhisheadonceortwicetogetanysenseoutofitatall.AtlastImanagedtoextractfromhimthatMolehadbeenseenintheWildWoodlastnightbyoneofthem.Itwasthetalkoftheburrows,hesaid,howMole,Mr.Rat’sparticularfriend,wasinabadfix;howhehadlosthisway,and‘They’wereupandouthunting,andwerechivvyinghimroundandround.‘Thenwhydidn’tanyofyoudosomething?’Iasked.‘Youmayn’tbeblessedwithbrains,buttherearehundredsandhundredsofyou,big,stoutfellows,asfatasbutter,andyourburrowsrunninginalldirections,andyoucouldhavetakenhiminandmadehimsafeandcomfortable,ortriedto,atallevents.’‘What,us?’hemerelysaid:‘dosomething?usrabbits?’SoIcuffedhimagainandlefthim.Therewasnothingelsetobedone.Atanyrate,Ihadlearntsomething;andifIhadhadthelucktomeetanyof‘Them’I’dhavelearntsomethingmore—ortheywould."

           "Weren’tyouatall—er—nervous?"askedtheMole,someofyesterday’sterrorcomingbacktohimatthementionoftheWildWood.