Ветер в ивах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
Notabitesincebreakfast!Omy!Omy!"Andhesatdownandhelpedhimselfliberallytocoldbeefandpickles.
Toadstraddledonthehearth-rug,thrusthispawintohistrouser-pocketandpulledoutahandfulofsilver."Lookatthat!"hecried,displayingit."That’snotsobad,isit,forafewminutes’work?AndhowdoyouthinkIdoneit,Mole?Horse-dealing!That’showIdoneit!"
"Goon,Toad,"saidtheMole,immenselyinterested.
"Toad,dobequiet,please!"saidtheRat."Anddon’tyouegghimon,Mole,whenyouknowwhatheis;butpleasetellusassoonaspossiblewhatthepositionis,andwhat’sbesttobedone,nowthatToadisbackatlast."
"Theposition’saboutasbadasitcanbe,"repliedtheMolegrumpily;"andasforwhat’stobedone,why,blestifIknow!TheBadgerandIhavebeenroundandroundtheplace,bynightandbyday;alwaysthesamething.Sentriespostedeverywhere,gunspokedoutatus,stonesthrownatus;alwaysananimalonthelook-out,andwhentheyseeus,my!howtheydolaugh!That’swhatannoysmemost!"
"It’saverydifficultsituation,"saidtheRat,reflectingdeeply."ButIthinkIseenow,inthedepthsofmymind,whatToadreallyoughttodo.Iwilltellyou.Heoughtto—"
"No,heoughtn’t!"shoutedtheMole,withhismouthfull."Nothingofthesort!Youdon’tunderstand.
