Вітер у вербах

           "Nervous?"TheOttershowedagleamingsetofstrongwhiteteethashelaughed."I’dgive’emnervesifanyofthemtriedanythingonwithme.Here,Mole,frymesomeslicesofham,likethegoodlittlechapyouare.I’mfrightfullyhungry,andI’vegotanyamounttosaytoRattyhere.Haven’tseenhimforanage."

           Sothegood-naturedMole,havingcutsomeslicesofham,setthehedgehogstofryit,andreturnedtohisownbreakfast,whiletheOtterandtheRat,theirheadstogether,eagerlytalkedriver-shop,whichislongshopandtalkthatisendless,runningonlikethebabblingriveritself.

           Aplateoffriedhamhadjustbeenclearedandsentbackformore,whentheBadgerentered,yawningandrubbinghiseyes,andgreetedthemallinhisquiet,simpleway,withkindinquiriesforeveryone."Itmustbegettingonforluncheontime,"heremarkedtotheOtter."Betterstopandhaveitwithus.Youmustbehungry,thiscoldmorning."

           "Rather!"repliedtheOtter,winkingattheMole."Thesightofthesegreedyyounghedgehogsstuffingthemselveswithfriedhammakesmefeelpositivelyfamished."

           Thehedgehogs,whowerejustbeginningtofeelhungryagainaftertheirporridge,andafterworkingsohardattheirfrying,lookedtimidlyupatMr.Badger,butweretooshytosayanything.

           "Here,youtwoyoungsters,beoffhometoyourmother,"saidtheBadgerkindly."I’llsendsomeonewithyoutoshowyoutheway.