the wind in the willows(柳间风)-第33节
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woman； ‘and I wonder you can be talking of rabbits； with such a joyful
prospect before you。 There's a heap of things of mine that you'll find in a
corner of the cabin。 If you'll just take one or two of the most necessary
sortI won't venture to describe them to a lady like you； but you'll
recognise them at a glanceand put them through the wash…tub as we go
along； why； it'll be a pleasure to you； as you rightly say； and a real help to
me。 You'll find a tub handy； and soap； and a kettle on the stove； and a
bucket to haul up water from the canal with。 Then I shall know you're
enjoying yourself； instead of sitting here idle； looking at the scenery and
yawning your head off。'
‘Here； you let me steer！' said Toad； now thoroughly frightened； ‘and
then you can get on with your washing your own way。 I might spoil your
things； or not do 'em as you like。 I'm more used to gentlemen's things
myself。 It's my special line。'
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‘Let you steer？' replied the barge…woman； laughing。 ‘It takes some
practice to steer a barge properly。 Besides； it's dull work； and I want you to
be happy。 No； you shall do the washing you are so fond of； and I'll stick to
the steering that I understand。 Don't try and deprive me of the pleasure of
giving you a treat！'
Toad was fairly cornered。 He looked for escape this way and that； saw
that he was too far from the bank for a flying leap； and sullenly resigned
himself to his fate。 ‘If it comes to that；' he thought in desperation； ‘I
suppose any fool can WASH！'
He fetched tub； soap； and other necessaries from the cabin； selected a
few garments at random； tried to recollect what he had seen in casual
glances through laundry windows； and set to。
A long half…hour passed； and every minute of it saw Toad getting
crosser and crosser。 Nothing that he could do to the things seemed to
please them or do them good。 He tried coaxing； he tried slapping； he tried
punching； they smiled back at him out of the tub unconverted； happy in
their original sin。 Once or twice he looked nervously over his shoulder at
the barge…woman； but she appeared to be gazing out in front of her；
absorbed in her steering。 His back ached badly； and he noticed with
dismay that his paws were beginning to get all crinkly。 Now Toad was
very proud of his paws。 He muttered under his breath words that should
never pass the lips of either washerwomen or Toads； and lost the soap； for
the fiftieth time。
A burst of laughter made him straighten himself and look round。 The
barge…woman was leaning back and laughing unrestrainedly； till the tears
ran down her cheeks。
‘I've been watching you all the time；' she gasped。 ‘I thought you must
be a humbug all along； from the conceited way you talked。 Pretty
washerwoman you are！ Never washed so much as a dish…clout in your life；
I'll lay！'
Toad's temper which had been simmering viciously for some time；
now fairly boiled over； and he lost all control of himself。
‘You common； low； FAT barge…woman！' he shouted； ‘don't you dare to
talk to your betters like that！ Washerwoman indeed！ I would have you to
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know that I am a Toad； a very well…known； respected； distinguished Toad！
I may be under a bit of a cloud at present； but I will NOT be laughed at by
a bargewoman！'
The woman moved nearer to him and peered under his bonnet keenly
and closely。 ‘Why； so you are！' she cried。 ‘Well； I never！ A horrid； nasty；
crawly Toad！ And in my nice clean barge； too！ Now that is a thing that I
will NOT have。'
She relinquished the tiller for a moment。 One big mottled arm shot out
and caught Toad by a fore…leg； while the other…gripped him fast by a hind…
leg。 Then the world turned suddenly upside down； the barge seemed to flit
lightly across the sky； the wind whistled in his ears； and Toad found
himself flying through the air； revolving rapidly as he went。
The water； when he eventually reached it with a loud splash； proved
quite cold enough for his taste； though its chill was not sufficient to quell
his proud spirit； or slake the heat of his furious temper。 He rose to the
surface spluttering； and when he had wiped the duck…weed out of his eyes
the first thing he saw was the fat barge…woman looking back at him over
the stern of the retreating barge and laughing； and he vowed； as he
coughed and choked； to be even with her。
He struck out for the shore； but the cotton gown greatly impeded his
efforts； and when at length he touched land he found it hard to climb up
the steep bank unassisted。 He had to take a minute or two's rest to recover
his breath； then； gathering his wet skirts well over his arms； he started to
run after the barge as fast as his legs would carry him； wild with
indignation； thirsting for revenge。
The barge…woman was still laughing when he drew up level with her。
‘Put yourself through your mangle； washerwoman；' she called out； ‘and
iron your face and crimp it； and you'll pass for quite a decent…looking
Toad！'
Toad never paused to reply。 Solid revenge was what he wanted； not
cheap； windy； verbal triumphs； though he had a thing or two in his mind
that he would have liked to say。 He saw what he wanted ahead of him。
Running swiftly on he overtook the horse； unfastened the towrope and cast
off； jumped lightly on the horse's back； and urged it to a gallop by kicking
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it vigorously in the sides。 He steered for the open country； abandoning the
tow…path； and swinging his steed down a rutty lane。 Once he looked back；
and saw that the barge had run aground on the other side of the canal； and
the barge…woman was gesticulating wildly and shouting； ‘Stop； stop； stop！'
‘I've heard that song before；' said Toad； laughing； as he continued to spur
his steed onward in its wild career。
The barge…horse was not capable of any very sustained effort； and its
gallop soon subsided into a trot； and its trot into an easy walk； but Toad
was quite contented with this； knowing that he； at any rate； was moving；
and the barge was not。 He had quite recovered his temper； now that he had
done something he thought really clever； and he was satisfied to jog along
quietly in the sun； steering his horse along by…ways and bridle…paths； and
trying to forget how very long it was since he had had a square meal； till
the canal had been left very far behind him。
He had travelled some miles； his horse and he； and he was feeling
drowsy in the hot sunshine； when the horse stopped； lowered his head； and
began to nibble the grass； and Toad； waking up； just saved himself from
falling off by an effort。 He looked about him and found he was on a wide
common； dotted with patches of gorse and bramble as far as he could see。
Near him stood a dingy gipsy caravan； and beside it a man was sitting on a
bucket turned upside down； very busy smoking and staring into the wide
world。 A fire of sticks was burning near by； and over the fire hung an iron
pot； and out of that pot came forth bubblings and gurglings； and a vague
suggestive steaminess。 Also smellswarm； rich； and varied smellsthat
twined and twisted and wreathed themselves at last into one complete；
voluptuous； perfect smell that seemed like the very soul of Nature taking
form and appearing to her children； a true Goddess； a mother of solace and
comfort。 Toad now knew well that he had not been really hungry before。
What he had felt earlier in the day had been a mere trifling qualm。 This
was the real thing at last； and no mistake； and it would have to be dealt
with speedily； too； or there would be trouble for somebody or something。
He looked the gipsy over carefully； wondering vaguely whether it would
be easier to fight him or cajole him。 So there he sat； and sniffed and
sniffed； and looked at the gipsy； and the gipsy sat and smoked； and looked
