Вітер у вербах
Mr. Toad
TheBadger’scaustic,nottosaybrutal,remarksmaybeimagined,andthereforepassedover;butitwaspainfultotheRatthateventheMole,thoughhetookhisfriend’ssideasfaraspossible,couldnothelpsaying,"You’vebeenabitofadufferthistime,Ratty!Toad,too,ofallanimals!"
"Hediditawfullywell,"saidthecrestfallenRat.
"Hedidyouawfullywell!"rejoinedtheBadgerhotly."However,talkingwon’tmendmatters.He’sgotclearawayforthetime,that’scertain;andtheworstofitis,he’llbesoconceitedwithwhathe’llthinkishisclevernessthathemaycommitanyfolly.Onecomfortis,we’refreenow,andneedn’twasteanymoreofourprecioustimedoingsentry-go.Butwe’dbettercontinuetosleepatToadHallforawhilelonger.Toadmaybebroughtbackatanymoment—onastretcher,orbetweentwopolicemen."
SospoketheBadger,notknowingwhatthefutureheldinstore,orhowmuchwater,andofhowturbidacharacter,wastorununderbridgesbeforeToadshouldsitateaseagaininhisancestralHall.
Meanwhile,Toad,gayandirresponsible,waswalkingbrisklyalongthehighroad,somemilesfromhome.
