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“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
TheMolehadslippedoffsomewherebyhimself,withouttellinganyonewherehewasgoingto.TheBadgersatinthearm-chair,readingthepaper,andnotconcerninghimselfintheslightestaboutwhatwasgoingtohappenthatveryevening.TheRat,ontheotherhand,wasrunningroundtheroombusily,withhisarmsfullofweaponsofeverykind,distributingtheminfourlittleheapsonthefloor,andsayingexcitedlyunderhisbreath,asheran,"Here’s-a-sword-for-the-Rat,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Mole,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Toad,here’s-a-sword-for-the-Badger!Here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Rat,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Mole,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Toad,here’s-a-pistol-for-the-Badger!"Andsoon,inaregular,rhythmicalway,whilethefourlittleheapsgraduallygrewandgrew.
"That’sallverywell,Rat,"saidtheBadgerpresently,lookingatthebusylittleanimalovertheedgeofhisnewspaper;"I’mnotblamingyou.Butjustletusoncegetpastthestoats,withthosedetestablegunsoftheirs,andIassureyouweshan’twantanyswordsorpistols.Wefour,withoursticks,oncewe’reinsidethedining-hall,why,weshallclearthefloorofallthelotoftheminfiveminutes.I’dhavedonethewholethingbymyself,onlyIdidn’twanttodepriveyoufellowsofthefun!"
"It’saswelltobeonthesafeside,"saidtheRatreflectively,polishingapistol-barrelonhissleeveandlookingalongit.