Мхи старої садиби

           "Havealsotheechoandmockeryofavoice!Ibidtheespeak!"

           Thescarecrowgasped,struggled,andatlengthemittedamurmur,whichwassoincorporatedwithitssmokybreaththatyoucouldscarcelytellwhetheritwereindeedavoiceoronlyawhiffoftobacco.SomenarratorsofthislegendholdtheopinionthatMotherRigby’sconjurationsandthefiercenessofherwillhadcompelledafamiliarspiritintothefigure,andthatthevoicewashis.

           "Mother,"mumbledthepoorstifledvoice,"benotsoawfulwithme!Iwouldfainspeak;butbeingwithoutwits,whatcanIsay?"

           "Thoucanstspeak,darling,canstthou?"criedMotherRigby,relaxinghergrimcountenanceintoasmile."Andwhatshaltthousay,quoth-a!Say,indeed!Artthouofthebrotherhoodoftheemptyskull,anddemandestofmewhatthoushaltsay?Thoushaltsayathousandthings,andsayingthemathousandtimesover,thoushaltstillhavesaidnothing!Benotafraid,Itellthee!Whenthoucomestintotheworld(whitherIpurposesendingtheeforthwith)thoushaltnotlackthewherewithaltotalk.Talk!Why,thoushallbabblelikeamill-stream,ifthouwilt.Thouhastbrainsenoughforthat,Itrow!"

           "Atyourservice,mother,"respondedthefigure.

           "Andthatwaswellsaid,myprettyone,"answeredMotherRigby."Thenthouspeakestlikethyself,andmeantnothing.Thoushalthaveahundredsuchsetphrases,andfivehundredtothebootofthem.