Ветер в ивах
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
WhenIleft,hecameoutwithme—saidhewantedsomeair,andtalkedaboutstretchinghislegs.ButIcouldseeitwasn’tthat,soIdrewhimoutandpumpedhim,andgotitallfromhimatlast.Hewasgoingtospendthenightwatchingbytheford.Youknowtheplacewheretheoldfordusedtobe,inby-gonedaysbeforetheybuiltthebridge?"
"Iknowitwell,"saidtheMole."ButwhyshouldOtterchoosetowatchthere?"
"Well,itseemsthatitwastherehegavePortlyhisfirstswimming-lesson,"continuedtheRat."Fromthatshallow,gravellyspitnearthebank.Anditwasthereheusedtoteachhimfishing,andthereyoungPortlycaughthisfirstfish,ofwhichhewassoveryproud.Thechildlovedthespot,andOtterthinksthatifhecamewanderingbackfromwhereverheis—ifheisanywherebythistime,poorlittlechap—hemightmakeforthefordhewassofondof;orifhecameacrossithe’drememberitwell,andstopthereandplay,perhaps.SoOttergoesthereeverynightandwatches—onthechance,youknow,justonthechance!"
Theyweresilentforatime,boththinkingofthesamething—thelonely,heart-soreanimal,crouchedbytheford,watchingandwaiting,thelongnightthrough—onthechance.
"Well,well,"saidtheRatpresently,"Isupposeweoughttobethinkingaboutturningin."Butheneverofferedtomove.
