Паутина Шарлотты

           Insideitwereleftoversfromsomebody’slunch:adeviledhamsandwich,apieceofSwisscheese,partofahard-boiledegg,andthecoreofawormyapple.

           Theratcrawledinandateeverything.Thenhetoreawordoutofthepaper,rolleditup,andstartedbacktoWilbur’spen.

           CharlottehadherwebalmostfinishedwhenTempletonreturned,carryingthenewspaperclipping.Shehadleftaspaceinthemiddleoftheweb.Atthishour,nopeoplewerearoundthepigpen,sotheratandthespiderandthepigwerebythemselves.

           "Ihopeyoubroughtagoodone,"Charlottesaid."ItisthelastwordIshalleverwrite."

           "Here,"saidTempleton,unrollingthepaper.

           "Whatdoesitsay?"askedCharlotte."You’llhavetoreaditforme."

           "Itsays’Humble,’"repliedtherat.

           "Humble?"saidCharlotte."’Humble’hastwomeanings.Itmeans’notproud’anditmeans’neartheground."That’sWilburallover.He’snotproudandhe’sneartheground."

           "Well,Ihopeyou’resatisfied,"sneeredtherat."I’mnotgoingtospendallmytimefetchingandcarrying.IcametothisFairtoenjoymyself,nottodeliverpapers."

           "You’vebeenveryhelpful,"Charlottesaid."Runalong,ifyouwanttoseemoreoftheFair."

           Theratgrinned."I’mgoingtomakeanightofit,"hesaid."Theoldsheepwasright-thisFairisarat’sparadise.Whateating!Andwhatdrinking!Andeverywheregoodhidingandgoodhunting.Bye,bye,myhumbleWilbur!Faretheewell,Charlotte,youoldschemer!Thiswillbeanighttorememberinarat’slife."

           Hevanishedintotheshadows.

           Charlottewentbacktoherwork.