Ветер в ивах

           Thepoop-poop!drewnearerandnearer,thecarcouldbeheardtoturnintotheinn-yardandcometoastop,andToadhadtoholdontothelegofthetabletoconcealhisover-masteringemotion.Presentlythepartyenteredthecoffee-room,hungry,talkative,andgay,volubleontheirexperiencesofthemorningandthemeritsofthechariotthathadbroughtthemalongsowell.Toadlistenedeagerly,allears,foratime;atlasthecouldstanditnolonger.Heslippedoutoftheroomquietly,paidhisbillatthebar,andassoonashegotoutsidesaunteredroundquietlytotheinn-yard."Therecannotbeanyharm,"hesaidtohimself,"inmyonlyjustlookingatit!"

           Thecarstoodinthemiddleoftheyard,quiteunattended,thestable-helpsandotherhangers-onbeingallattheirdinner.Toadwalkedslowlyroundit,inspecting,criticising,musingdeeply.

           "Iwonder,"hesaidtohimselfpresently,"Iwonderifthissortofcarstartseasily?"

           Nextmoment,hardlyknowinghowitcameabout,hefoundhehadholdofthehandleandwasturningit.Asthefamiliarsoundbrokeforth,theoldpassionseizedonToadandcompletelymasteredhim,bodyandsoul.Asifinadreamhefoundhimself,somehow,seatedinthedriver’sseat;asifinadream,hepulledtheleverandswungthecarroundtheyardandoutthroughthearchway;and,asifinadream,allsenseofrightandwrong,allfearofobviousconsequences,seemedtemporarilysuspended.