Вітер у вербах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
"Ishouldhopeso,too,"saidtheMoleconfidently."IgottheideawhenIwentintothekitchen,toseeaboutToad’sbreakfastbeingkepthotforhim.Ifoundthatoldwasherwoman-dressthathecamehomeinyesterday,hangingonatowel-horsebeforethefire.SoIputiton,andthebonnetaswell,andtheshawl,andoffIwenttoToadHall,asboldasyouplease.Thesentrieswereonthelook-out,ofcourse,withtheirgunsandtheir‘Whocomesthere?’andalltherestoftheirnonsense.‘Goodmorning,gentlemen!’saysI,veryrespectful.‘Wantanywashingdoneto-day?’Theylookedatmeveryproudandstiffandhaughty,andsaid,‘Goaway,washerwoman!Wedon’tdoanywashingonduty.’‘Oranyothertime?’saysI.Ho,ho,ho!Wasn’tIfunny,Toad?"
"Poor,frivolousanimal!"saidToad,veryloftily.Thefactis,hefeltexceedinglyjealousofMoleforwhathehadjustdone.Itwasexactlywhathewouldhavelikedtohavedonehimself,ifonlyhehadthoughtofitfirst,andhadn’tgoneandoverslepthimself.
"Someofthestoatsturnedquitepink,"continuedtheMole,"andtheSergeantincharge,hesaidtome,veryshort,hesaid,‘Nowrunaway,mygoodwoman,runaway!Don’tkeepmymenidlingandtalkingontheirposts.’‘Runaway?’saysI;‘itwon’tbemethat’llberunningaway,inaveryshorttimefromnow!’"
"OMoly,howcouldyou?"saidtheRat,dismayed.
TheBadgerlaiddownhispaper.
