Ветер в ивах

           AsIsaid,Ihaveanauntwhoisawasherwoman;shedoesthewashingforalltheprisonersinthiscastle—wetrytokeepanypayingbusinessofthatsortinthefamily,youunderstand.ShetakesoutthewashingonMondaymorning,andbringsitinonFridayevening.ThisisaThursday.Now,thisiswhatoccurstome:you’reveryrich—atleastyou’realwaystellingmeso—andshe’sverypoor.Afewpoundswouldn’tmakeanydifferencetoyou,anditwouldmeanalottoher.Now,Ithinkifshewereproperlyapproached—squared,Ibelieveisthewordyouanimalsuse—youcouldcometosomearrangementbywhichshewouldletyouhaveherdressandbonnetandsoon,andyoucouldescapefromthecastleastheofficialwasherwoman.You’reveryalikeinmanyrespects—particularlyaboutthefigure."

           "We’renot,"saidtheToadinahuff."Ihaveaveryelegantfigure—forwhatIam."

           "Sohasmyaunt,"repliedthegirl,"forwhatsheis.Buthaveityourownway.Youhorrid,proud,ungratefulanimal,whenI’msorryforyou,andtryingtohelpyou!"

           "Yes,yes,that’sallright;thankyouverymuchindeed,"saidtheToadhurriedly."Butlookhere!youwouldn’tsurelyhaveMr.Toad,ofToadHall,goingaboutthecountrydisguisedasawasherwoman!"

           "ThenyoucanstophereasaToad,"repliedthegirlwithmuchspirit.