the wind in the willows(柳间风)-第25节
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what seemed to her a very trivial offence。 Toad； of course； in his vanity；
thought that her interest in him proceeded from a growing tenderness； and
he could not help half…regretting that the social gulf between them was so
very wide； for she was a comely lass； and evidently admired him very
much。
One morning the girl was very thoughtful； and answered at random；
and did not seem to Toad to be paying proper attention to his witty sayings
and sparkling comments。
‘Toad；' she said presently； ‘just listen； please。 I have an aunt who is a
washerwoman。'
‘There； there；' said Toad； graciously and affably； ‘never mind； think no
more about it。 _I_ have several aunts who OUGHT to be washerwomen。'
‘Do be quiet a minute； Toad；' said the girl。 ‘You talk too much； that's
your chief fault； and I'm trying to think； and you hurt my head。 As I said； I
have an aunt who is a washerwoman； she does the washing for all the
prisoners in this castlewe try to keep any paying business of that sort in
the family； you understand。 She takes out the washing on Monday
morning； and brings it in on Friday evening。 This is a Thursday。 Now； this
is what occurs to me： you're very richat least you're always telling me so…
…and she's very poor。 A few pounds wouldn't make any difference to you；
and it would mean a lot to her。 Now； I think if she were properly
approachedsquared； I believe is the word you animals useyou could
come to some arrangement by which she would let you have her dress and
bonnet and so on； and you could escape from the castle as the official
washerwoman。 You're very alike in many respectsparticularly about the
figure。'
‘We're NOT；' said the Toad in a huff。 ‘I have a very elegant figurefor
what I am。'
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‘So has my aunt；' replied the girl； ‘for what SHE is。 But have it your
own way。 You horrid； proud； ungrateful animal； when I'm sorry for you；
and trying to help you！' ‘Yes； yes； that's all right； thank you very much
indeed；' said the Toad hurriedly。 ‘But look here！ you wouldn't surely have
Mr。 Toad of Toad Hall； going about the country disguised as a
washerwoman！'
‘Then you can stop here as a Toad；' replied the girl with much spirit。 ‘I
suppose you want to go off in a coach…and…four！'
Honest Toad was always ready to admit himself in the wrong。 ‘You are
a good； kind； clever girl；' he said； ‘and I am indeed a proud and a stupid
toad。 Introduce me to your worthy aunt； if you will be so kind； and I have
no doubt that the excellent lady and I will be able to arrange terms
satisfactory to both parties。'
Next evening the girl ushered her aunt into Toad's cell； bearing his
week's washing pinned up in a towel。 The old lady had been prepared
beforehand for the interview； and the sight of certain gold sovereigns that
Toad had thoughtfully placed on the table in full view practically
completed the matter and left little further to discuss。 In return for his cash；
Toad received a cotton print gown； an apron； a shawl； and a rusty black
bonnet； the only stipulation the old lady made being that she should be
gagged and bound and dumped down in a corner。 By this not very
convincing artifice； she explained； aided by picturesque fiction which she
could supply herself； she hoped to retain her situation； in spite of the
suspicious appearance of things。
Toad was delighted with the suggestion。 It would enable him to leave
the prison in some style； and with his reputation for being a desperate and
dangerous fellow untarnished； and he readily helped the gaoler's daughter
to make her aunt appear as much as possible the victim of circumstances
over which she had no control。
‘Now it's your turn； Toad；' said the girl。 ‘Take off that coat and
waistcoat of yours； you're fat enough as it is。'
Shaking with laughter； she proceeded to ‘hook…and…eye' him into the
cotton print gown； arranged the shawl with a professional fold； and tied
the strings of the rusty bonnet under his chin。
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‘You're the very image of her；' she giggled； ‘only I'm sure you never
looked half so respectable in all your life before。 Now； good…bye； Toad；
and good luck。 Go straight down the way you came up； and if any one
says anything to you； as they probably will； being but men； you can chaff
back a bit； of course； but remember you're a widow woman； quite alone in
the world； with a character to lose。'
With a quaking heart； but as firm a footstep as he could command；
Toad set forth cautiously on what seemed to be a most hare… brained and
hazardous undertaking； but he was soon agreeably surprised to find how
easy everything was made for him； and a little humbled at the thought that
both his popularity； and the sex that seemed to inspire it； were really
another's。 The washerwoman's squat figure in its familiar cotton print
seemed a passport for every barred door and grim gateway； even when he
hesitated； uncertain as to the right turning to take； he found himself helped
out of his difficulty by the warder at the next gate； anxious to be off to his
tea； summoning him to come along sharp and not keep him waiting there
all night。 The chaff and the humourous sallies to which he was subjected；
and to which； of course； he had to provide prompt and effective reply；
formed； indeed； his chief danger； for Toad was an animal with a strong
sense of his own dignity； and the chaff was mostly （he thought） poor and
clumsy； and the humour of the sallies entirely lacking。 However； he kept
his temper； though with great difficulty； suited his retorts to his company
and his supposed character； and did his best not to overstep the limits of
good taste。
It seemed hours before he crossed the last courtyard； rejected the
pressing invitations from the last guardroom； and dodged the outspread
arms of the last warder； pleading with simulated passion for just one
farewell embrace。 But at last he heard the wicket…gate in the great outer
door click behind him； felt the fresh air of the outer world upon his
anxious brow； and knew that he was free！
Dizzy with the easy success of his daring exploit； he walked quickly
towards the lights of the town； not knowing in the least what he should do
next； only quite certain of one thing； that he must remove himself as
quickly as possible from the neighbourhood where the lady he was forced
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to represent was so well…known and so popular a character。
As he walked along； considering； his attention was caught by some red
and green lights a little way off； to one side of the town； and the sound of
the puffing and snorting of engines and the banging of shunted trucks fell
on his ear。 ‘Aha！' he thought； ‘this is a piece of luck！ A railway station is
the thing I want most in the whole world at this moment； and what's more；
I needn't go through the town to get it； and shan't have to support this
humiliating character by repartees which； though thoroughly effective； do
not assist one's sense of self…respect。'
He made his way to the station accordingly； consulted a time… table；
and found that a train； bound more or less in the direction of his home；
was due to start in half…an…hour。 ‘More luck！' said Toad； his spirits rising
rapidly； and went off to the booking…office to buy his ticket。
He gave the name of the station that he knew to be nearest to the
village of which Toad Hall was the principal feature； and mechanically put
his fingers； in search of the necessary money； where his waiscoat pocket
should have been。 But here the cotton gown； which had nobly stood by
him so far； and which he had basely forgotten； intervened； and frustrated
his efforts。 In a sort of nightmare he struggled with
