Ветер в ивах
The Open Road
ORatty!Youcan’tthinkhowobligedIamtoyouforconsentingtocomeonthistrip!Iwouldn’thavegonewithoutyou,andthenImightneverhaveseenthat—thatswan,thatsunbeam,thatthunderbolt!Imightneverhaveheardthatentrancingsound,orsmeltthatbewitchingsmell!Ioweitalltoyou,mybestoffriends!"
TheRatturnedfromhimindespair."Youseewhatitis?"hesaidtotheMole,addressinghimacrossToad’shead:"He’squitehopeless.Igiveitup—whenwegettothetownwe’llgototherailwaystation,andwithluckwemaypickupatraintherethat’llgetusbacktoriverbankto-night.Andifeveryoucatchmegoinga-pleasuringwiththisprovokinganimalagain!"—Hesnorted,andduringtherestofthatwearytrudgeaddressedhisremarksexclusivelytoMole.
OnreachingthetowntheywentstraighttothestationanddepositedToadinthesecond-classwaiting-room,givingaportertwopencetokeepastricteyeonhim.Theythenleftthehorseataninnstable,andgavewhatdirectionstheycouldaboutthecartanditscontents.Eventually,aslowtrainhavinglandedthematastationnotveryfarfromToadHall,theyescortedthespellbound,sleep-walkingToadtohisdoor,puthiminsideit,andinstructedhishousekeepertofeedhim,undresshim,andputhimtobed.Thentheygotouttheirboatfromtheboat-house,sculleddowntheriverhome,andataverylatehoursatdowntosupperintheirowncosyriversideparlour,totheRat’sgreatjoyandcontentment
