Вітер у вербах

           Hepattedhimonthehead,shovedthebundleofinvitationsintohispaw,andtoldhimtocutalongquickanddeliverthemasfastashecould,andifhelikedtocomebackagainintheevening,perhapstheremightbeashillingforhim,or,again,perhapstheremightn’t;andthepoorweaselseemedreallyquitegrateful,andhurriedoffeagerlytodohismission.

           Whentheotheranimalscamebacktoluncheon,veryboisterousandbreezyafteramorningontheriver,theMole,whoseconsciencehadbeenprickinghim,lookeddoubtfullyatToad,expectingtofindhimsulkyordepressed.Instead,hewassouppishandinflatedthattheMolebegantosuspectsomething;whiletheRatandtheBadgerexchangedsignificantglances.

           Assoonasthemealwasover,Toadthrusthispawsdeepintohistrouser-pockets,remarkedcasually,"Well,lookafteryourselves,youfellows!Askforanythingyouwant!"andwasswaggeringoffinthedirectionofthegarden,wherehewantedtothinkoutanideaortwoforhiscomingspeeches,whentheRatcaughthimbythearm.

           Toadrathersuspectedwhathewasafter,anddidhisbesttogetaway;butwhentheBadgertookhimfirmlybytheotherarmhebegantoseethatthegamewasup.Thetwoanimalsconductedhimbetweenthemintothesmallsmoking-roomthatopenedoutoftheentrance-hall,shutthedoor,andputhimintoachair.Thentheybothstoodinfrontofhim,whileToadsatsilentandregardedthemwithmuchsuspicionandill-humour.