Ветер в ивах
Mr. Toad
ButI’vebeensearchingmymindsince,andgoingoverthingsinit,andIfindthatI’mnotabitsorryorrepentantreally,soit’snoearthlygoodsayingIam;now,isit?"
"Thenyoudon’tpromise,"saidtheBadger,"nevertotouchamotor-caragain?"
"Certainlynot!"repliedToademphatically."Onthecontrary,Ifaithfullypromisethattheveryfirstmotor-carIsee,poop-poop!offIgoinit!"
"Toldyouso,didn’tI?"observedtheRattotheMole.
"Verywell,then,"saidtheBadgerfirmly,risingtohisfeet."Sinceyouwon’tyieldtopersuasion,we’lltrywhatforcecando.Ifeareditwouldcometothisallalong.You’veoftenaskedusthreetocomeandstaywithyou,Toad,inthishandsomehouseofyours;well,nowwe’regoingto.Whenwe’veconvertedyoutoaproperpointofviewwemayquit,butnotbefore.Takehimupstairs,youtwo,andlockhimupinhisbedroom,whilewearrangemattersbetweenourselves."
"It’sforyourowngood,Toady,youknow,"saidtheRatkindly,asToad,kickingandstruggling,washauledupthestairsbyhistwofaithfulfriends."Thinkwhatfunweshallallhavetogether,justasweusedto,whenyou’vequitegotoverthis—thispainfulattackofyours!"
"We’lltakegreatcareofeverythingforyoutillyou’rewell,Toad,"saidtheMole;"andwe’llseeyourmoneyisn’twasted,asithasbeen.