Ветер в ивах

           Ihavehissolemnpromisetothateffect."

           "Thatisverygoodnews,"saidtheMolegravely.

           "Verygoodnewsindeed,"observedtheRatdubiously,"ifonly—ifonly—"

           HewaslookingveryhardatToadashesaidthis,andcouldnothelpthinkingheperceivedsomethingvaguelyresemblingatwinkleinthatanimal’sstillsorrowfuleye.

           "There’sonlyonethingmoretobedone,"continuedthegratifiedBadger."Toad,Iwantyousolemnlytorepeat,beforeyourfriendshere,whatyoufullyadmittedtomeinthesmoking-roomjustnow.First,youaresorryforwhatyou’vedone,andyouseethefollyofitall?"

           Therewasalong,longpause.Toadlookeddesperatelythiswayandthat,whiletheotheranimalswaitedingravesilence.Atlasthespoke.

           "No!"hesaid,alittlesullenly,butstoutly;"I’mnotsorry.Anditwasn’tfollyatall!Itwassimplyglorious!"

           "What?"criedtheBadger,greatlyscandalised."Youbackslidinganimal,didn’tyoutellmejustnow,inthere—"

           "Oh,yes,yes,inthere,"saidToadimpatiently."I’dhavesaidanythinginthere.You’resoeloquent,dearBadger,andsomoving,andsoconvincing,andputallyourpointssofrightfullywell—youcandowhatyoulikewithmeinthere,andyouknowit.