Ветер в ивах

           "Youknowitisn’ttimetobethinkingofwinterquartersyet,byalongway!"

           "Oyes,weknowthat,"explainedafield-mouserathershamefacedly;"butit’salwaysaswelltobeingoodtime,isn’tit?Wereallymustgetallthefurnitureandbaggageandstoresmovedoutofthisbeforethosehorridmachinesbeginclickingroundthefields;andthen,youknow,thebestflatsgetpickedupsoquicklynowadays,andifyou’relateyouhavetoputupwithanything;andtheywantsuchalotofdoingup,too,beforethey’refittomoveinto.Ofcourse,we’reearly,weknowthat;butwe’reonlyjustmakingastart."

           "O,botherstarts,"saidtheRat."It’sasplendidday.Comeforarow,orastrollalongthehedges,orapicnicinthewoods,orsomething."

           "Well,Ithinknotto-day,thankyou,"repliedthefield-mousehurriedly."Perhapssomeotherday—whenwe’vemoretime—"

           TheRat,withasnortofcontempt,swungroundtogo,trippedoverahat-box,andfell,withundignifiedremarks.

           "Ifpeoplewouldbemorecareful,"saidafield-mouseratherstiffly,"andlookwherethey’regoing,peoplewouldn’thurtthemselves—andforgetthemselves.Mindthathold-all,Rat!You’dbettersitdownsomewhere.Inanhourortwowemaybemorefreetoattendtoyou.