Ветер в ивах

           "

           "Ibegyourpardon,"saidtheRatslowly,ashechewedastraw,"butdidIoverhearyousaysomethingabout‘we,’and’start,’and’thisafternoon‘?"

           "Now,youdeargoodoldRatty,"saidToadimploringly,"don’tbegintalkinginthatstiffandsniffysortofway,becauseyouknowyou’vegottocome.Ican’tpossiblymanagewithoutyou,sopleaseconsideritsettled,anddon’targue—it’stheonethingIcan’tstand.Yousurelydon’tmeantosticktoyourdullfustyoldriverallyourlife,andjustliveinaholeinabank,andboat?Iwanttoshowyoutheworld!I’mgoingtomakeananimalofyou,myboy!"

           "Idon’tcare,"saidtheRatdoggedly."I’mnotcoming,andthat’sflat.AndIamgoingtosticktomyoldriver,andliveinahole,andboat,asI’vealwaysdone.Andwhat’smore,Mole’sgoingtosticktomeanddoasIdo,aren’tyou,Mole?"

           "OfcourseIam,"saidtheMole,loyally."I’llalwayssticktoyou,Rat,andwhatyousayistobe—hasgottobe.Allthesame,itsoundsasifitmighthavebeen—well,ratherfun,youknow!"headdedwistfully.PoorMole!TheLifeAdventurouswassonewathingtohim,andsothrilling;andthisfreshaspectofitwassotempting;andhehadfalleninloveatfirstsightwiththecanary-colouredcartandallitslittlefitments.

           TheRatsawwhatwaspassinginhismind,andwavered.