Вітер у вербах

           "

           "He’sbeeninhospitalthreetimes,"putintheMole;"andasforthefineshe’shadtopay,it’ssimplyawfultothinkof."

           "Yes,andthat’spartofthetrouble,"continuedtheRat."Toad’srich,weallknow;buthe’snotamillionaire.Andhe’sahopelesslybaddriver,andquiteregardlessoflawandorder.Killedorruined—it’sgottobeoneofthetwothings,soonerorlater.Badger!we’rehisfriends—oughtn’twetodosomething?"

           TheBadgerwentthroughabitofhardthinking."Nowlookhere!"hesaidatlast,ratherseverely;"ofcourseyouknowIcan’tdoanythingnow?"

           Histwofriendsassented,quiteunderstandinghispoint.Noanimal,accordingtotherulesofanimaletiquette,iseverexpectedtodoanythingstrenuous,orheroic,orevenmoderatelyactiveduringtheoff-seasonofwinter.Allaresleepy—someactuallyasleep.Allareweather-bound,moreorless;andallarerestingfromarduousdaysandnights,duringwhicheverymuscleinthemhasbeenseverelytested,andeveryenergykeptatfullstretch.

           "Verywellthen!"continuedtheBadger."But,whenoncetheyearhasreallyturned,andthenightsareshorter,andhalf-waythroughthemonerousesandfeelsfidgetyandwantingtobeupanddoingbysunrise,ifnotbefore—youknow!—"

           Bothanimalsnoddedgravely.