Ветер в ивах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
"No,notaword!Whathavetheybeendoing?"
"—Andhowthey’vebeenandtakenToadHall?"continuedtheRat.
Toadleanedhiselbowsonthetable,andhischinonhispaws;andalargetearwelledupineachofhiseyes,overflowedandsplashedonthetable,plop!plop!
"Goon,Ratty,"hemurmuredpresently;"tellmeall.Theworstisover.Iamananimalagain.Icanbearit."
"Whenyou—got—intothat—that—troubleofyours,"saidtheRat,slowlyandimpressively;"Imean,whenyou—disappearedfromsocietyforatime,overthatmisunderstandingabouta—amachine,youknow—"
Toadmerelynodded.
"Well,itwasagooddealtalkedaboutdownhere,naturally,"continuedtheRat,"notonlyalongtheriverside,butevenintheWildWood.Animalstooksides,asalwayshappens.TheRiver-bankersstuckupforyou,andsaidyouhadbeeninfamouslytreated,andtherewasnojusticetobehadinthelandnowadays.ButtheWildWoodanimalssaidhardthings,andservedyouright,anditwastimethissortofthingwasstopped.Andtheygotverycocky,andwentaboutsayingyouweredoneforthistime!Youwouldnevercomebackagain,never,never!"
Toadnoddedoncemore,keepingsilence.
"That’sthesortoflittlebeaststheyare,"theRatwenton."ButMoleandBadger,theystuckout,throughthickandthin,thatyouwouldcomebackagainsoon,somehow.
