Ветер в ивах

           Toad,alandedproprietor;Ihavejustescaped,bymygreatdaringandcleverness,fromaloathsomedungeonintowhichmyenemieshadflungme;andifthosefellowsonthatenginerecaptureme,itwillbechainsandbread-and-waterandstrawandmiseryoncemoreforpoor,unhappy,innocentToad!"

           Theengine-driverlookeddownuponhimverysternly,andsaid,"Nowtellthetruth;whatwereyouputinprisonfor?"

           "Itwasnothingverymuch,"saidpoorToad,colouringdeeply."Ionlyborrowedamotor-carwhiletheownerswereatlunch;theyhadnoneedofitatthetime.Ididn’tmeantostealit,really;butpeople—especiallymagistrates—takesuchharshviewsofthoughtlessandhigh-spiritedactions."

           Theengine-driverlookedverygraveandsaid,"Ifearthatyouhavebeenindeedawickedtoad,andbyrightsIoughttogiveyouuptooffendedjustice.Butyouareevidentlyinsoretroubleanddistress,soIwillnotdesertyou.Idon’tholdwithmotor-cars,foronething;andIdon’tholdwithbeingorderedaboutbypolicemenwhenI’monmyownengine,foranother.Andthesightofananimalintearsalwaysmakesmefeelqueerandsoft-hearted.Socheerup,Toad!I’lldomybest,andwemaybeatthemyet!"

           Theypiledonmorecoals,shovellingfuriously;thefurnaceroared,thesparksflew,theengineleaptandswung,butstilltheirpursuersslowlygained.