Вітер у вербах

           "Aha!"hethought,"thisisapieceofluck!ArailwaystationisthethingIwantmostinthewholeworldatthismoment;andwhat’smore,Ineedn’tgothroughthetowntogetit,andshan’thavetosupportthishumiliatingcharacterbyreparteeswhich,thoughthoroughlyeffective,donotassistone’ssenseofself-respect."

           Hemadehiswaytothestationaccordingly,consultedatime-table,andfoundthatatrain,boundmoreorlessinthedirectionofhishome,wasduetostartinhalf-an-hour."Moreluck!"saidToad,hisspiritsrisingrapidly,andwentofftothebooking-officetobuyhisticket.

           HegavethenameofthestationthatheknewtobenearesttothevillageofwhichToadHallwastheprincipalfeature,andmechanicallyputhisfingers,insearchofthenecessarymoney,wherehiswaistcoatpocketshouldhavebeen.Butherethecottongown,whichhadnoblystoodbyhimsofar,andwhichhehadbaselyforgotten,intervened,andfrustratedhisefforts.Inasortofnightmarehestruggledwiththestrangeuncannythingthatseemedtoholdhishands,turnallmuscularstrivingstowater,andlaughathimallthetime;whileothertravellers,formingupinalinebehind,waitedwithimpatience,makingsuggestionsofmoreorlessvalueandcommentsofmoreorlessstringencyandpoint.