Вітер у вербах
Dulce Domum
"
Stillsnuffling,pleading,andreluctant,Molesufferedhimselftobedraggedbackalongtheroadbyhisimperiouscompanion,whobyaflowofcheerfultalkandanecdoteendeavouredtobeguilehisspiritsbackandmakethewearywayseemshorter.WhenatlastitseemedtotheRatthattheymustbenearingthatpartoftheroadwheretheMolehadbeen"heldup,"hesaid,"Now,nomoretalking.Business!Useyournose,andgiveyourmindtoit."
Theymovedoninsilenceforsomelittleway,whensuddenlytheRatwasconscious,throughhisarmthatwaslinkedinMole’s,ofafaintsortofelectricthrillthatwaspassingdownthatanimal’sbody.Instantlyhedisengagedhimself,fellbackapace,andwaited,allattention.
Thesignalswerecomingthrough!
Molestoodamomentrigid,whilehisupliftednose,quiveringslightly,felttheair.
Thenashort,quickrunforward—afault—acheck—atryback;andthenaslow,steady,confidentadvance.
TheRat,muchexcited,keptclosetohisheelsastheMole,withsomethingoftheairofasleep-walker,crossedadryditch,scrambledthroughahedge,andnosedhiswayoverafieldopenandtracklessandbareinthefaintstarlight.
Suddenly,withoutgivingwarning,hedived;buttheRatwasonthealert,andpromptlyfollowedhimdownthetunneltowhichhisunerringnosehadfaithfullyledhim.