← When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death, Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm. 🔊
← This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature, Frederick and Pilkington said. 🔊
← One of Mr. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. 🔊
← Except through Whymper, there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world, but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield−but never, it was noticed, with both simultaneously. 🔊
← It was well seasoned, and Whymper had advised Napoleon to sell it; both Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick were anxious to buy it. 🔊
← Napoleon was hesitating between the two, unable to make up his mind. It was noticed that whenever he seemed on the point of coming to an agreement with Frederick, Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood, while, when he inclined toward Pilkington, Snowball was said to be at Pinchfield. 🔊
← At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. 🔊
← The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington, though they were only conducted through Whymper, were now almost friendly. 🔊
← All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. 🔊
← The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington." 🔊
← All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. It now appeared that Snowball was not, after all, hiding on Pinchfield Farm, and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living−in considerable luxury, so it was said−at Foxwood, and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past. 🔊
← The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon's cunning. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. 🔊
← Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won. 🔊
← But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. 🔊
← The farm was more prosperous now, and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. Pilkington. 🔊
← 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. 🔊
← This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations, the long working hours, and the general absence of pampering which he had observed on Animal Farm. 🔊
← There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. Pilkington's before emptying it. 🔊
← It would be a plain green flag from now onwards. He had only one criticism, he said, to make of Mr. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. 🔊
← Mr. Pilkington had referred throughout to "Animal Farm." He could not of course know−for he, Napoleon, was only now for the first time announcing it−that the name "Animal Farm" had been abolished. 🔊