Ветер в ивах

           Whensupperwasreallyfinishedatlast,andeachanimalfeltthathisskinwasnowastightaswasdecentlysafe,andthatbythistimehedidn’tcareahangforanybodyoranything,theygatheredroundtheglowingembersofthegreatwoodfire,andthoughthowjollyitwastobesittingupsolate,andsoindependent,andsofull;andaftertheyhadchattedforatimeaboutthingsingeneral,theBadgersaidheartily,"Nowthen!tellusthenewsfromyourpartoftheworld.How’soldToadgoingon?"

           "Oh,frombadtoworse,"saidtheRatgravely,whiletheMole,cockeduponasettleandbaskinginthefirelight,hisheelshigherthanhishead,triedtolookproperlymournful."Anothersmash-uponlylastweek,andabadone.Yousee,hewillinsistondrivinghimself,andhe’shopelesslyincapable.Ifhe’donlyemployadecent,steady,well-trainedanimal,payhimgoodwages,andleaveeverythingtohim,he’dgetonallright.Butno;he’sconvincedhe’saheaven-borndriver,andnobodycanteachhimanything;andalltherestfollows."

           "Howmanyhashehad?"inquiredtheBadgergloomily.

           "Smashes,ormachines?"askedtheRat."Oh,well,afterall,it’sthesamething—withToad.Thisistheseventh.Asfortheothers—youknowthatcoach-houseofhis?Well,it’spiledup—literallypileduptotheroof—withfragmentsofmotor-cars,noneofthembiggerthanyourhat!Thataccountsfortheothersix—sofarastheycanbeaccountedfor.