Ветер в ивах

           Baffledandfullofdespair,hewanderedblindlydowntheplatformwherethetrainwasstanding,andtearstrickleddowneachsideofhisnose.Itwashard,hethought,tobewithinsightofsafetyandalmostofhome,andtobebaulkedbythewantofafewwretchedshillingsandbythepettifoggingmistrustfulnessofpaidofficials.Verysoonhisescapewouldbediscovered,thehuntwouldbeup,hewouldbecaught,reviled,loadedwithchains,draggedbackagaintoprisonandbread-and-waterandstraw;hisguardsandpenaltieswouldbedoubled;andO,whatsarcasticremarksthegirlwouldmake!Whatwastobedone?Hewasnotswiftoffoot;hisfigurewasunfortunatelyrecognisable.Couldhenotsqueezeundertheseatofacarriage?Hehadseenthismethodadoptedbyschoolboys,whenthejourney-moneyprovidedbythoughtfulparentshadbeendivertedtootherandbetterends.Ashepondered,hefoundhimselfoppositetheengine,whichwasbeingoiled,wiped,andgenerallycaressedbyitsaffectionatedriver,aburlymanwithanoil-caninonehandandalumpofcotton-wasteintheother.

           "Hullo,mother!"saidtheengine-driver,"what’sthetrouble?Youdon’tlookparticularlycheerful."

           "O,sir!"saidToad,cryingafresh,"Iamapoorunhappywasherwoman,andI’velostallmymoney,andcan’tpayforaticket,andImustgethometo-nightsomehow,andwhateverIamtodoIdon’tknow.