Ветер в ивах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
Theydidn’tknowexactlyhow,butsomehow!"
Toadbegantositupinhischairagain,andtosmirkalittle.
"Theyarguedfromhistory,"continuedtheRat."Theysaidthatnocriminallawshadeverbeenknowntoprevailagainstcheekandplausibilitysuchasyours,combinedwiththepowerofalongpurse.SotheyarrangedtomovetheirthingsintoToadHall,andsleepthere,andkeepitaired,andhaveitallreadyforyouwhenyouturnedup.Theydidn’tguesswhatwasgoingtohappen,ofcourse;still,theyhadtheirsuspicionsoftheWildWoodanimals.NowIcometothemostpainfulandtragicpartofmystory.Onedarknight—itwasaverydarknight,andblowinghard,too,andrainingsimplycatsanddogs—abandofweasels,armedtotheteeth,creptsilentlyupthecarriage-drivetothefrontentrance.Simultaneously,abodyofdesperateferrets,advancingthroughthekitchen-garden,possessedthemselvesofthebackyardandoffices;whileacompanyofskirmishingstoatswhostuckatnothingoccupiedtheconservatoryandthebilliard-room,andheldtheFrenchwindowsopeningontothelawn.
"TheMoleandtheBadgerweresittingbythefireinthesmoking-room,tellingstoriesandsuspectingnothing,foritwasn’tanightforanyanimalstobeoutin,whenthosebloodthirstyvillainsbrokedownthedoorsandrushedinuponthemfromeveryside.
