Ветер в ивах
The Further Adventures of Toad
Hedidnotknowthatgipsieswereveryfondofhorse-dealing,andnevermissedanopportunity,andhehadnotreflectedthatcaravanswerealwaysonthemoveandtookadealofdrawing.Ithadnotoccurredtohimtoturnthehorseintocash,butthegipsy’ssuggestionseemedtosmooththewaytowardsthetwothingshewantedsobadly—readymoney,andasolidbreakfast.
"What?"hesaid,"mesellthisbeautifulyounghorseofmine?O,no;it’soutofthequestion.Who’sgoingtotakethewashinghometomycustomerseveryweek?Besides,I’mtoofondofhim,andhesimplydotesonme."
"Tryandloveadonkey,"suggestedthegipsy."Somepeopledo."
"Youdon’tseemtosee,"continuedToad,"thatthisfinehorseofmineisacutaboveyoualtogether.He’sabloodhorse,heis,partly;notthepartyousee,ofcourse—anotherpart.Andhe’sbeenaPrizeHackney,too,inhistime—thatwasthetimebeforeyouknewhim,butyoucanstilltellitonhimataglance,ifyouunderstandanythingabouthorses.No,it’snottobethoughtofforamoment.Allthesame,howmuchmightyoubedisposedtooffermeforthisbeautifulyounghorseofmine?"
Thegipsylookedthehorseover,andthenhelookedToadoverwithequalcare,andlookedatthehorseagain."Shillin’aleg,"hesaidbriefly,andturnedaway,continuingtosmokeandtrytostarethewideworldoutofcountenance.
"Ashillingaleg?"criedToad.
