Вітер у вербах

           "

           "Nomoreofthoseregrettableincidentswiththepolice,Toad,"saidtheRat,astheythrusthimintohisbedroom.

           "Andnomoreweeksinhospital,beingorderedaboutbyfemalenurses,Toad,"addedtheMole,turningthekeyonhim.

           Theydescendedthestair,Toadshoutingabuseatthemthroughthekeyhole;andthethreefriendsthenmetinconferenceonthesituation.

           "It’sgoingtobeatediousbusiness,"saidtheBadger,sighing."I’veneverseenToadsodetermined.However,wewillseeitout.Hemustneverbeleftaninstantunguarded.Weshallhavetotakeitinturnstobewithhim,tillthepoisonhasworkeditselfoutofhissystem."

           Theyarrangedwatchesaccordingly.EachanimaltookitinturnstosleepinToad’sroomatnight,andtheydividedthedayupbetweenthem.AtfirstToadwasundoubtedlyverytryingtohiscarefulguardians.Whenhisviolentparoxysmspossessedhimhewouldarrangebedroomchairsinruderesemblanceofamotor-carandwouldcrouchontheforemostofthem,bentforwardandstaringfixedlyahead,makinguncouthandghastlynoises,tilltheclimaxwasreached,when,turningacompletesomersault,hewouldlieprostrateamidsttheruinsofthechairs,apparentlycompletelysatisfiedforthemoment.Astimepassed,however,thesepainfulseizuresgrewgraduallylessfrequent,andhisfriendsstrovetodiverthismindintofreshchannels.