Ветер в ивах
The River Bank
Then,ashelooked,itwinkedathim,andsodeclareditselftobeaneye;andasmallfacebegangraduallytogrowuproundit,likeaframeroundapicture.
Abrownlittleface,withwhiskers.
Agraveroundface,withthesametwinkleinitseyethathadfirstattractedhisnotice.
Smallneatearsandthicksilkyhair.
ItwastheWaterRat!
Thenthetwoanimalsstoodandregardedeachothercautiously.
"Hullo,Mole!"saidtheWaterRat.
"Hullo,Rat!"saidtheMole.
"Wouldyouliketocomeover?"enquiredtheRatpresently.
"Oh,it’sallverywelltotalk,"saidtheMoleratherpettishly,hebeingnewtoariverandriversidelifeanditsways.
TheRatsaidnothing,butstoopedandunfastenedaropeandhauledonit;thenlightlysteppedintoalittleboatwhichtheMolehadnotobserved.Itwaspaintedblueoutsideandwhitewithin,andwasjustthesizefortwoanimals;andtheMole’swholeheartwentouttoitatonce,eventhoughhedidnotyetfullyunderstanditsuses.
TheRatsculledsmartlyacrossandmadefast.Thenhehelduphisfore-pawastheMolesteppedgingerlydown."Leanonthat!"hesaid."Nowthen,steplively!"andtheMoletohissurpriseandrapturefoundhimselfactuallyseatedinthesternofarealboat.
