Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 13
"Youcangobacktosleep.O.K.,Templeton,thesoapadwilldo,Iguess.I’mnotsureWilbur’sactionisexactlyradiant,butit’sinteresting."
"Actually,"saidWilbur,"Ifeelradiant."
"Doyou?"saidCharlotte,lookingathimwithaffection."Well,you’reagoodlittlepig,andradiantyoushallbe.I’minthisthingprettydeepnow-Imightaswellgothelimit."
Tiredfromhisromp,Wilburlaydowninthecleanstraw.Heclosedhiseyes.Thestrawseemedscratchy-notascomfortableasthecowmanure,whichwasalwaysdelightfullysofttoliein.Sohepushedthestrawtoonesideandstretchedoutinthemanure.Wilbursighed.Ithadbeenabusyday-hisfirstdayofbeingterrific.Dozensofpeoplehadvisitedhisyardduringtheafternoon,andhehadhadtostandandpose,lookingasterrificashecould.Nowhewastired.Fernhadarrivedandseatedherselfquietlyonherstoolinthecorner.
"Tellmeastory,Charlotte!"saidWilbur,ashelaywaitingforsleeptocome."Tellmeastory!"
SoCharlotte,althoughshe,too,wastired,didwhatWilburwanted.
"Onceuponatime,"shebegan,"Ihadabeautifulcousinwhomanagedtobuildherwebacrossasmallstream.Onedayatinyfishleapedintotheairandgottangledintheweb.Mycousinwasverymuchsurprised,ofcourse.Thefishwasthrashingwildly.Mycousinhardlydaredtackleit.Butshedid.Sheswoopeddownandthrewgreatmassesofwrappingmaterialaroundthefishandfoughtbravelytocaptureit."
"Didshesucceed?"askedWilbur.
"Itwasanever-to-be-forgottenbattle,"saidCharlotte.
