Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 4
"Play?"saidTempleton,twirlinghiswhiskers."Play?Ihardlyknowthemeaningoftheword."
"Well,"saidWilbur,"itmeanstohavefun,tofrolic,torunandskipandmakemerry."
"IneverdothosethingsifIcanavoidthem,"repliedtherat,sourly."Iprefertospendmytimeeating,gnaw-ing,spying,andhiding.Iamagluttonbutnotamerry-maker.RightnowIamonmywaytoyourtroughtoeatyourbreakfast,sinceyouhaven’tgotsenseenoughtoeatityourself."AndTempleton,therat,creptstealthilyalongthewallanddisappearedintoaprivatetunnelthathehaddugbetweenthedoorandthetroughinWilbur’syard.Templetonwasacraftyrat,andhehadthingsprettymuchhisownway.Thetunnelwasanexampleofhisskillandcunning.Thetunnelenabledhimtogetfromthebarntohishidingplaceunderthepigtroughwithoutcomingoutintotheopen.HehadtunnelsandrunwaysalloverMr.Zuckerman’sfarmandcouldgetfromoneplacetoanotherwithoutbeingseen.Usuallyhesleptduringthedaytimeandwasabroadonlyafterdark.
Wilburwatchedhimdisappearintohistunnel.Inamomenthesawtherat’ssharpnosepokeoutfromunderneaththewoodentrough.CautiouslyTempletonpulledhimselfupovertheedgeofthetrough.ThiswasalmostmorethanWilburcouldstand:onthisdreary,rainydaytoseehisbreakfastbeingeatenbysomebodyelse.HeknewTempletonwasgettingsoaked,outthereinthepouringrain,buteventhatdidn’tcomforthim.Friendless,dejected,andhungry,hethrewhimselfdowninthemanureandsobbed.
Latethatafternoon,LurvywenttoMr.Zuckerman
