Ветер в ивах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
Toadwasquitealarmedatthisveryseriousandportentousstyleofgreeting;buttheRatwhisperedtohim,"Nevermind;don’ttakeanynotice;anddon’tsayanythingtohimjustyet.He’salwaysratherlowanddespondentwhenhe’swantinghisvictuals.Inhalfanhour’stimehe’llbequiteadifferentanimal."
Sotheywaitedinsilence,andpresentlytherecameanotherandalighterknock.TheRat,withanodtoToad,wenttothedoorandusheredintheMole,veryshabbyandunwashed,withbitsofhayandstrawstickinginhisfur.
"Hooray!Here’soldToad!"criedtheMole,hisfacebeaming."Fancyhavingyoubackagain!"Andhebegantodanceroundhim."Weneverdreamtyouwouldturnupsosoon!Why,youmusthavemanagedtoescape,youclever,ingenious,intelligentToad!"
TheRat,alarmed,pulledhimbytheelbow;butitwastoolate.Toadwaspuffingandswellingalready.
"Clever?O,no!"hesaid."I’mnotreallyclever,accordingtomyfriends.I’veonlybrokenoutofthestrongestprisoninEngland,that’sall!Andcapturedarailwaytrainandescapedonit,that’sall!Anddisguisedmyselfandgoneaboutthecountryhumbuggingeverybody,that’sall!O,no!I’mastupidass,Iam!I’lltellyouoneortwoofmylittleadventures,Mole,andyoushalljudgeforyourself!"
"Well,well,"saidtheMole,movingtowardsthesupper-table;"supposingyoutalkwhileIeat.
