Ветер в ивах
“Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
"Youbad,troublesomelittleanimal!Aren’tyouashamedofyourself?Whatdoyouthinkyourfather,myoldfriend,wouldhavesaidifhehadbeenhereto-night,andhadknownofallyourgoingson?"
Toad,whowasonthesofabythistime,withhislegsup,rolledoveronhisface,shakenbysobsofcontrition.
"There,there!"wentontheBadger,morekindly."Nevermind.Stopcrying.We’regoingtoletbygonesbebygones,andtryandturnoveranewleaf.ButwhattheMolesaysisquitetrue.Thestoatsareonguard,ateverypoint,andtheymakethebestsentinelsintheworld.It’squiteuselesstothinkofattackingtheplace.They’retoostrongforus."
"Thenit’sallover,"sobbedtheToad,cryingintothesofacushions."Ishallgoandenlistforasoldier,andneverseemydearToadHallanymore!"
"Come,cheerup,Toady!"saidtheBadger."Therearemorewaysofgettingbackaplacethantakingitbystorm.Ihaven’tsaidmylastwordyet.NowI’mgoingtotellyouagreatsecret."
Toadsatupslowlyanddriedhiseyes.Secretshadanimmenseattractionforhim,becausehenevercouldkeepone,andheenjoyedthesortofunhallowedthrillheexperiencedwhenhewentandtoldanotheranimal,afterhavingfaithfullypromisednotto.
"There—is—an—underground—passage,"saidtheBadger,impressively,"thatleadsfromtheriver-bank,quitenearhere,rightupintothemiddleofToadHall.
