Паутина Шарлотты

           "Iamsure,"shesaid,thateveryoneofusherewillbegratifiedtolearnthatafterfourweeksofunremittingeffortandpatienceonthepartofourfriendthegoose,shenowhassomethingtoshowforit.Thegoslingshavearrived.MayIoffermysincerecongratulations!"

           "Thankyou,thankyou,thankyou!"saidthegoose,noddingandbowingshamelessly.

           "Thankyou,"saidthegander.

           "Congratulations!"shoutedWilbur."Howmanygoslingsarethere?Icanonlyseeone."

           "Thereareseven,"saidthegoose.

           "Fine!"saidCharlotte."Sevenisaluckynumber."

           "Luckhadnothingtodowiththis,"saidthegoose."Itwasgoodmanagementandhardwork."

           Atthispoint,TempletonshowedhisnosefromhishidingplaceunderWilbur’strough.HeglancedatFern,thencreptcautiouslytowardthegoose,keepingclosetothewall.Everyonewatchedhim,forhewasnotwellliked,nottrusted.

           "Look,"hebeganinhissharpvoice,"yousayyouhavesevengoslings.Therewereeighteggs.Whathappenedtotheotheregg?Whydidn’tithatch?"

           "It’sadud,Iguess,"saidthegoose.

           "Whatareyougoingtodowithit?"continuedTempleton,hislittleroundbeadyeyesfixedonthegoose.

           "Youcanhaveit,"repliedthegoose."Rollitawayandaddittothatnastycollectionofyours."(Templetonhadahabitofpickingupunusualobjectsaroundthefarmandstoringtheminhishome.Hesavedeverything.)

           "Certainly-ertainly-ertainly,"saidthegander."Youmayhavetheegg.ButI’lltellyouonething,Templeton,ifIevercatchyoupoking-oking-okingyouruglynosearoundourgoslings,I’llgiveyoutheworstpoundingaratevertook.