← The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs. The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment, evidently in order to drink a toast. 🔊
← Mr. Pilkington, of Foxwood, had stood up, his mug in his hand. In a moment, he said, he would ask the present company to drink a toast. 🔊
← There had been a time−not that he, or any of the present company, had shared such sentiments−but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded, he would not say with hostility, but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving, by their human neighbours. 🔊
← Here it became apparent that Mr. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company, but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. 🔊
← And now, he said finally, he would ask the company to rise to their feet and make certain that their glasses were full. 🔊
← Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away. 🔊