Chapter 19

           Nextmorningwhenthefirstlightcameintotheskyandthesparrowsstirredinthetrees,whenthecowsrattledtheirchainsandtheroostercrowedandtheearlyautomobileswentwhisperingalongtheroad,WilburawokeandlookedforCharlotte.Hesawherupoverheadinacornernearthebackofhispen.Shewasveryquiet.Hereightlegswerespreadwide.Sheseemedtohaveshrunkduringthenight.Nexttoher,attachedtotheceiling,Wilbursawacuriousobject.Itwasasortofsac,orcocoon.Itwaspeach-coloredandlookedasthoughitweremadeofcottoncandy.

           "Areyouawake,Charlotte?"hesaidsoftly.

           "Yes,"cametheanswer.

           "Whatisthatniftylittlething?Didyoumakeit?"

           "Ididindeed,"repliedCharlotteinaweakvoice.

           "Isitaplaything?"

           "Plaything?Ishouldsaynot.Itismyeggsac,mymagnumopus."

           "Idon’tknowwhatamagnumopusis,"saidWilbur.

           "That’sLatin,"explainedCharlotte."Itmeans’greatwork."Thiseggsacismygreatwork-thefinestthingIhaveevermade."

           "What’sinsideit?"askedWilbur."Eggs?"

           "Fivehundredandfourteenofthem,"shereplied.

           "Fivehundredandfourteen?"saidWilbur."You’rekidding."

           "No,I’mnot.Icountedthem.IgotstartedcountingsoIkepton-justtokeepmymindoccupied."

           "It’saperfectlybeautifuleggsac,"saidWilbur,feelingashappyasthoughhehadconstructedithimself.

           "Yes,itispretty,"repliedCharlotte,pattingthesacwithhertwofrontlegs."Anyway,Icanguaranteethatitisstrong.

           It’smadeoutofthetoughestmaterialIhave.Itisalsowaterproof.Theeggsareinsideandwillbewarmanddry.