Ветер в ивах

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           TheRatwasneverthelessstillanxioustobeoffandattendtohisriver,sotheBadger,takinguphislanternagain,ledthewayalongadampandairlesstunnelthatwoundanddipped,partvaulted,parthewnthroughsolidrock,forawearydistancethatseemedtobemiles.Atlastdaylightbegantoshowitselfconfusedlythroughtangledgrowthoverhangingthemouthofthepassage;andtheBadger,biddingthemahastygood-bye,pushedthemhurriedlythroughtheopening,madeeverythinglookasnaturalaspossibleagain,withcreepers,brushwood,anddeadleaves,andretreated.

           TheyfoundthemselvesstandingontheveryedgeoftheWildWood.Rocksandbramblesandtree-rootsbehindthem,confusedlyheapedandtangled;infront,agreatspaceofquietfields,hemmedbylinesofhedgesblackonthesnow,and,farahead,aglintofthefamiliaroldriver,whilethewintrysunhungredandlowonthehorizon.TheOtter,asknowingallthepaths,tookchargeoftheparty,andtheytrailedoutonabee-lineforadistantstile.Pausingthereamomentandlookingback,theysawthewholemassoftheWildWood,dense,menacing,compact,grimlysetinvastwhitesurroundings;simultaneouslytheyturnedandmadeswiftlyforhome,forfirelightandthefamiliarthingsitplayedon,forthevoice,soundingcheerilyoutsidetheirwindow,oftheriverthattheyknewandtrustedinallitsmoods,thatnevermadethemafraidwithanyamazement