Вітер у вербах

           Theairofthenarrowcelltookarosytinge;hebegantothinkofhisfriends,andhowtheywouldsurelybeabletodosomething;oflawyers,andhowtheywouldhaveenjoyedhiscase,andwhatanasshehadbeennottogetinafew;andlastly,hethoughtofhisowngreatclevernessandresource,andallthathewascapableofifheonlygavehisgreatmindtoit;andthecurewasalmostcomplete.

           Whenthegirlreturned,somehourslater,shecarriedatray,withacupoffragrantteasteamingonit;andaplatepiledupwithveryhotbutteredtoast,cutthick,verybrownonbothsides,withthebutterrunningthroughtheholesinitingreatgoldendrops,likehoneyfromthehoneycomb.ThesmellofthatbutteredtoastsimplytalkedtoToad,andwithnouncertainvoice;talkedofwarmkitchens,ofbreakfastsonbrightfrostymornings,ofcosyparlourfiresidesonwinterevenings,whenone’sramblewasover,andslipperedfeetwereproppedonthefender;ofthepurringofcontentedcats,andthetwitterofsleepycanaries.Toadsatuponendoncemore,driedhiseyes,sippedhisteaandmunchedhistoast,andsoonbegantalkingfreelyabouthimself,andthehousehelivedin,andhisdoingsthere,andhowimportanthewas,andwhatalothisfriendsthoughtofhim.

           Thegaoler’sdaughtersawthatthetopicwasdoinghimasmuchgoodasthetea,asindeeditwas,andencouragedhimtogoon.

           "TellmeaboutToadHall,"saidshe."Itsoundsbeautiful.