English
'Ratty,'saidtheMolesuddenly,onebrightsummermorning,'ifyouplease,Iwanttoaskyouafavour.'
TheRatwassittingontheriverbank,singingalittlesong.
Hehadjustcomposedithimself,sohewasverytakenupwithit,andwouldnotpayproperattentiontoMoleoranythingelse.
Sinceearlymorninghehadbeenswimmingintheriver,incompanywithhisfriendstheducks.
Andwhentheducksstoodontheirheadssuddenly,asduckswill,hewoulddivedownandtickletheirnecks,justunderwheretheirchinswouldbeifduckshadchins,tilltheywereforcedtocometothesurfaceagaininahurry,splutteringandangryandshakingtheirfeathersathim,foritisimpossibletosayquiteALLyoufeelwhenyourheadisunderwater.
Atlasttheyimploredhimtogoawayandattendtohisownaffairsandleavethemtomindtheirs.
SotheRatwentaway,andsatontheriverbankinthesun,andmadeupasongaboutthem,whichhecalled
'DUCKS'DITTY.'
Allalongthebackwater,
Throughtherushestall,
Ducksarea-dabbling,
Uptailsall!
Ducks'tails,drakes'tails,
Yellowfeeta-quiver,
Yellowbillsalloutofsight
Busyintheriver!
Slushygreenundergrowth
Wheretheroachswim—
Herewekeepourlarder,
Coolandfullanddim.
Everyoneforwhathelikes!
Weliketobe
Headsdown,tailsup,
Dabblingfree!
Highintheblueabove
Swiftswhirlandcall—
Wearedowna-dabbling
Uptailsall!
'Idon'tknowthatIthinksoVERYmuchofthatlittlesong,Rat,'observedtheMolecautiously.Hewasnopoethimselfanddidn'tcarewhoknewit;andhehadacandidnature.
'Nordon'ttheducksneither,'repliedtheRatcheerfully.
'Theysay,"WHYcan'tfellowsbeallowedtodowhattheylikeWHENtheylikeandAStheylike,insteadofotherfellowssittingonbanksandwatchingthemallthetimeandmakingremarksandpoetryandthingsaboutthem?WhatNONSENSEitallis!"That'swhattheduckssay.'
'Soitis,soitis,'saidtheMole,withgreatheartiness.
'No,itisn't!'criedtheRatindignantly.
'Wellthen,itisn't,itisn't,'repliedtheMolesoothingly.
'ButwhatIwantedtoaskyouwas,won'tyoutakemetocallonMr.Toad?
I'veheardsomuchabouthim,andIdosowanttomakehisacquaintance.'
'Why,certainly,'saidthegood-naturedRat,jumpingtohisfeetanddismissingpoetryfromhismindfortheday.
'Gettheboatout,andwe'llpaddleupthereatonce.
It'sneverthewrongtimetocallonToad.
Earlyorlatehe'salwaysthesamefellow.
Alwaysgood-tempered,alwaysgladtoseeyou,alwayssorrywhenyougo!'
'Hemustbeaveryniceanimal,'observedtheMole,ashegotintotheboatandtookthesculls,whiletheRatsettledhimselfcomfortablyinthestern.
'Heisindeedthebestofanimals,'repliedRat.
'Sosimple,sogood-natured,andsoaffectionate.
Perhapshe'snotveryclever—wecan'tallbegeniuses;anditmaybethatheisbothboastfulandconceited.
Buthehasgotsomegreatqualities,hasToady.'
Roundingabendintheriver,theycameinsightofahandsome,dignifiedoldhouseofmellowedredbrick,withwell-keptlawnsreachingdowntothewater'sedge.
'There'sToadHall,'saidtheRat;'andthatcreekontheleft,wherethenotice-boardsays,"Private.
Nolandingallowed,"leadstohisboat-house,wherewe'llleavetheboat.
Thestablesareovertheretotheright.
That'sthebanqueting-hallyou'relookingatnow—veryold,thatis.
Toadisratherrich,youknow,andthisisreallyoneofthenicesthousesintheseparts,thoughweneveradmitasmuchtoToad.'
Theyglidedupthecreek,andtheMoleslippedhisscullsastheypassedintotheshadowofalargeboat-house.
Heretheysawmanyhandsomeboats,slungfromthecrossbeamsorhauleduponaslip,butnoneinthewater;andtheplacehadanunusedandadesertedair.
TheRatlookedaroundhim.'Iunderstand,'saidhe.'Boatingisplayedout.He'stiredofit,anddonewithit.
Iwonderwhatnewfadhehastakenupnow?Comealongandlet'slookhimup.
Weshallhearallaboutitquitesoonenough.'
Theydisembarked,andstrolledacrossthegayflower-deckedlawnsinsearchofToad,whomtheypresentlyhappeneduponrestinginawickergarden-chair,withapre-occupiedexpressionofface,andalargemapspreadoutonhisknees.
'Hooray!'hecried,jumpinguponseeingthem,'thisissplendid!'
Heshookthepawsofbothofthemwarmly,neverwaitingforanintroductiontotheMole.'HowKINDofyou!'hewenton,dancingroundthem.'
Iwasjustgoingtosendaboatdowntheriverforyou,Ratty,withstrictordersthatyouweretobefetcheduphereatonce,whateveryouweredoing.Iwantyoubadly—bothofyou.Nowwhatwillyoutake?Comeinsideandhavesomething!
Youdon'tknowhowluckyitis,yourturningupjustnow!'
'Let'ssitquietabit,Toady!'saidtheRat,throwinghimselfintoaneasychair,whiletheMoletookanotherbythesideofhimandmadesomecivilremarkaboutToad's'delightfulresidence.'
'Finesthouseonthewholeriver,'criedToadboisterously.'Oranywhereelse,forthatmatter,'hecouldnothelpadding.
HeretheRatnudgedtheMole.UnfortunatelytheToadsawhimdoit,andturnedveryred.Therewasamoment'spainfulsilence.ThenToadburstoutlaughing.'Allright,Ratty,'hesaid.'It'sonlymyway,youknow.
Andit'snotsuchaverybadhouse,isit?Youknowyouratherlikeityourself.Now,lookhere.Let'sbesensible.YouaretheveryanimalsIwanted.You'vegottohelpme.It'smostimportant!'
'It'saboutyourrowing,Isuppose,'saidtheRat,withaninnocentair.
'You'regettingonfairlywell,thoughyousplashagoodbitstill.
Withagreatdealofpatience,andanyquantityofcoaching,youmay——'
'O,pooh!boating!'interruptedtheToad,ingreatdisgust.Sillyboyishamusement.I'vegiventhatupLONGago.Sheerwasteoftime,that'swhatitis.
Itmakesmedownrightsorrytoseeyoufellows,whooughttoknowbetter,spendingallyourenergiesinthataimlessmanner.
No,I'vediscoveredtherealthing,theonlygenuineoccupationforalifetime.
Iproposetodevotetheremainderofminetoit,andcanonlyregretthewastedyearsthatliebehindme,squanderedintrivialities.
Comewithme,dearRatty,andyouramiablefriendalso,ifhewillbesoverygood,justasfarasthestable-yard,andyoushallseewhatyoushallsee!'
Heledthewaytothestable-yardaccordingly,theRatfollowingwithamostmistrustfulexpression;andthere,drawnoutofthecoachhouseintotheopen,theysawagipsycaravan,shiningwithnewness,paintedacanary-yellowpickedoutwithgreen,andredwheels.
'Thereyouare!'criedtheToad,straddlingandexpandinghimself.
'There'sreallifeforyou,embodiedinthatlittlecart.
Theopenroad,thedustyhighway,theheath,thecommon,thehedgerows,therollingdowns!Camps,villages,towns,cities!
Hereto-day,upandofftosomewhereelseto-morrow!Travel,change,interest,excitement!
Thewholeworldbeforeyou,andahorizonthat'salwayschanging!Andmind!
thisistheveryfinestcartofitssortthatwaseverbuilt,withoutanyexception.
Comeinsideandlookatthearrangements.Planned'emallmyself,Idid!'
TheMolewastremendouslyinterestedandexcited,andfollowedhimeagerlyupthestepsandintotheinteriorofthecaravan.
TheRatonlysnortedandthrusthishandsdeepintohispockets,remainingwherehewas.
Itwasindeedverycompactandcomfortable.
Littlesleepingbunks—alittletablethatfoldedupagainstthewall—acooking-stove,lockers,bookshelves,abird-cagewithabirdinit;andpots,pans,jugsandkettlesofeverysizeandvariety.
'Allcomplete!'saidtheToadtriumphantly,pullingopenalocker.
'Yousee—biscuits,pottedlobster,sardines—everythingyoucanpossiblywant.
Soda-waterhere—baccythere—letter-paper,bacon,jam,cardsanddominoes—you'llfind,'hecontinued,astheydescendedthestepsagain,'you'llfindthatnothingwhateverhasbeenforgotten,whenwemakeourstartthisafternoon.'
'Ibegyourpardon,'saidtheRatslowly,ashechewedastraw,'butdidIoverhearyousaysomethingabout"WE,"and"START,"and"THISAFTERNOON?"'
'Now,youdeargoodoldRatty,'saidToad,imploringly,'don'tbegintalkinginthatstiffandsniffysortofway,becauseyouknowyou'veGOTtocome.
Ican'tpossiblymanagewithoutyou,sopleaseconsideritsettled,anddon'targue—it'stheonethingIcan'tstand.
Yousurelydon'tmeantosticktoyourdullfustyoldriverallyourlife,andjustliveinaholeinabank,andBOAT?Iwanttoshowyoutheworld!
I'mgoingtomakeanANIMALofyou,myboy!'
'Idon'tcare,'saidtheRat,doggedly.'I'mnotcoming,andthat'sflat.
AndIAMgoingtosticktomyoldriver,ANDliveinahole,ANDboat,asI'vealwaysdone.
Andwhat'smore,Mole'sgoingtostickmeanddoasIdo,aren'tyou,Mole?'
'OfcourseIam,'saidtheMole,loyally.
'I'llalwayssticktoyou,Rat,andwhatyousayistobe—hasgottobe.
Allthesame,itsoundsasifitmighthavebeen—well,ratherfun,youknow!'headded,wistfully.PoorMole!
TheLifeAdventurouswassonewathingtohim,andsothrilling;andthisfreshaspectofitwassotempting;andhehadfalleninloveatfirstsightwiththecanary-colouredcartandallitslittlefitments.
TheRatsawwhatwaspassinginhismind,andwavered.Hehateddisappointingpeople,andhewasfondoftheMole,andwoulddoalmostanythingtoobligehim.Toadwaswatchingbothofthemclosely.
'Comealongin,andhavesomelunch,'hesaid,diplomatically,'andwe'lltalkitover.Weneedn'tdecideanythinginahurry.Ofcourse,Idon'treallycare.
Ionlywanttogivepleasuretoyoufellows."Liveforothers!"That'smymottoinlife.'
Duringluncheon—whichwasexcellent,ofcourse,aseverythingatToadHallalwayswas—theToadsimplylethimselfgo.
DisregardingtheRat,heproceededtoplayupontheinexperiencedMoleasonaharp.
Naturallyavolubleanimal,andalwaysmasteredbyhisimagination,hepaintedtheprospectsofthetripandthejoysoftheopenlifeandtheroadsideinsuchglowingcoloursthattheMolecouldhardlysitinhischairforexcitement.
Somehow,itsoonseemedtakenforgrantedbyallthreeofthemthatthetripwasasettledthing;andtheRat,thoughstillunconvincedinhismind,allowedhisgood-naturetoover-ridehispersonalobjections.
Hecouldnotbeartodisappointhistwofriends,whowerealreadydeepinschemesandanticipations,planningouteachday'sseparateoccupationforseveralweeksahead.
Whentheywerequiteready,thenowtriumphantToadledhiscompanionstothepaddockandsetthemtocapturetheoldgreyhorse,who,withouthavingbeenconsulted,andtohisownextremeannoyance,hadbeentoldoffbyToadforthedustiestjobinthisdustyexpedition.
Hefranklypreferredthepaddock,andtookadealofcatching.
MeantimeToadpackedthelockersstilltighterwithnecessaries,andhungnosebags,netsofonions,bundlesofhay,andbasketsfromthebottomofthecart.
Atlastthehorsewascaughtandharnessed,andtheysetoff,alltalkingatonce,eachanimaleithertrudgingbythesideofthecartorsittingontheshaft,asthehumourtookhim.Itwasagoldenafternoon.
Thesmellofthedusttheykickedupwasrichandsatisfying;outofthickorchardsoneithersidetheroad,birdscalledandwhistledtothemcheerily;good-naturedwayfarers,passingthem,gavethem'Good-day,'orstoppedtosaynicethingsabouttheirbeautifulcart;andrabbits,sittingattheirfrontdoorsinthehedgerows,helduptheirfore-paws,andsaid,'Omy!Omy!Omy!'
Lateintheevening,tiredandhappyandmilesfromhome,theydrewuponaremotecommonfarfromhabitations,turnedthehorseloosetograze,andatetheirsimplesuppersittingonthegrassbythesideofthecart.
Toadtalkedbigaboutallhewasgoingtodointhedaystocome,whilestarsgrewfullerandlargerallaroundthem,andayellowmoon,appearingsuddenlyandsilentlyfromnowhereinparticular,cametokeepthemcompanyandlistentotheirtalk.
Atlasttheyturnedintotheirlittlebunksinthecart;andToad,kickingouthislegs,sleepilysaid,'Well,goodnight,youfellows!Thisisthereallifeforagentleman!Talkaboutyouroldriver!'
'IDON'Ttalkaboutmyriver,'repliedthepatientRat.'YouKNOWIdon't,Toad.ButITHINKaboutit,'headdedpathetically,inalowertone:'Ithinkaboutit—allthetime!'
TheMolereachedoutfromunderhisblanket,feltfortheRat'spawinthedarkness,andgaveitasqueeze.
'I'lldowhateveryoulike,Ratty,'hewhispered.
'Shallwerunawayto-morrowmorning,quiteearly—VERYearly—andgobacktoourdearoldholeontheriver?'
'No,no,we'llseeitout,'whisperedbacktheRat.
'Thanksawfully,butIoughttostickbyToadtillthistripisended.
Itwouldn'tbesafeforhimtobelefttohimself.Itwon'ttakeverylong.Hisfadsneverdo.Goodnight!'
TheendwasindeednearerthaneventheRatsuspected.
AftersomuchopenairandexcitementtheToadsleptverysoundly,andnoamountofshakingcouldrousehimoutofbednextmorning.
SotheMoleandRatturnedto,quietlyandmanfully,andwhiletheRatsawtothehorse,andlitafire,andcleanedlastnight'scupsandplatters,andgotthingsreadyforbreakfast,theMoletrudgedofftothenearestvillage,alongwayoff,formilkandeggsandvariousnecessariestheToadhad,ofcourse,forgottentoprovide.
Thehardworkhadallbeendone,andthetwoanimalswereresting,thoroughlyexhausted,bythetimeToadappearedonthescene,freshandgay,remarkingwhatapleasanteasylifeitwastheywereallleadingnow,afterthecaresandworriesandfatiguesofhousekeepingathome.
Theyhadapleasantramblethatdayovergrassydownsandalongnarrowby-lanes,andcampedasbefore,onacommon,onlythistimethetwogueststookcarethatToadshoulddohisfairshareofwork.
Inconsequence,whenthetimecameforstartingnextmorning,Toadwasbynomeanssorapturousaboutthesimplicityoftheprimitivelife,andindeedattemptedtoresumehisplaceinhisbunk,whencehewashauledbyforce.
Theirwaylay,asbefore,acrosscountrybynarrowlanes,anditwasnottilltheafternoonthattheycameoutonthehigh-road,theirfirsthigh-road;andtheredisaster,fleetandunforeseen,sprangoutonthem—disastermomentousindeedtotheirexpedition,butsimplyoverwhelminginitseffectontheafter-careerofToad.
Theywerestrollingalongthehigh-roadeasily,theMolebythehorse'shead,talkingtohim,sincethehorsehadcomplainedthathewasbeingfrightfullyleftoutofit,andnobodyconsideredhimintheleast;theToadandtheWaterRatwalkingbehindthecarttalkingtogether—atleastToadwastalking,andRatwassayingatintervals,'Yes,precisely;andwhatdidYOUsaytoHIM?'
—andthinkingallthetimeofsomethingverydifferent,whenfarbehindthemtheyheardafaintwarninghum;likethedroneofadistantbee.
Glancingback,theysawasmallcloudofdust,withadarkcentreofenergy,advancingonthematincrediblespeed,whilefromoutthedustafaint'Poop-poop!'wailedlikeanuneasyanimalinpain.
Hardlyregardingit,theyturnedtoresumetheirconversation,wheninaninstant(asitseemed)thepeacefulscenewaschanged,andwithablastofwindandawhirlofsoundthatmadethemjumpforthenearestditch,Itwasonthem!
The'Poop-poop'rangwithabrazenshoutintheirears,theyhadamoment'sglimpseofaninteriorofglitteringplate-glassandrichmorocco,andthemagnificentmotor-car,immense,breath-snatching,passionate,withitspilottenseandhugginghiswheel,possessedallearthandairforthefractionofasecond,flunganenvelopingcloudofdustthatblindedandenwrappedthemutterly,andthendwindledtoaspeckinthefardistance,changedbackintoadroningbeeoncemore.
Theoldgreyhorse,dreaming,asheploddedalong,ofhisquietpaddock,inanewrawsituationsuchasthissimplyabandonedhimselftohisnaturalemotions.
Rearing,plunging,backingsteadily,inspiteofalltheMole'seffortsathishead,andalltheMole'slivelylanguagedirectedathisbetterfeelings,hedrovethecartbackwardstowardsthedeepditchatthesideoftheroad.
Itwaveredaninstant—thentherewasaheartrendingcrash—andthecanary-colouredcart,theirprideandtheirjoy,layonitssideintheditch,anirredeemablewreck.
TheRatdancedupanddownintheroad,simplytransportedwithpassion.'Youvillains!'
heshouted,shakingbothfists,'Youscoundrels,youhighwaymen,you—you—roadhogs!—I'llhavethelawofyou!I'llreportyou!I'lltakeyouthroughalltheCourts!'
Hishome-sicknesshadquiteslippedawayfromhim,andforthemomenthewastheskipperofthecanary-colouredvesseldrivenonashoalbytherecklessjockeyingofrivalmariners,andhewastryingtorecollectallthefineandbitingthingsheusedtosaytomastersofsteam-launcheswhentheirwash,astheydrovetoonearthebank,usedtofloodhisparlour-carpetathome.
Toadsatstraightdowninthemiddleofthedustyroad,hislegsstretchedoutbeforehim,andstaredfixedlyinthedirectionofthedisappearingmotor-car.
Hebreathedshort,hisfaceworeaplacidsatisfiedexpression,andatintervalshefaintlymurmured'Poop-poop!'
TheMolewasbusytryingtoquietthehorse,whichhesucceededindoingafteratime.
Thenhewenttolookatthecart,onitssideintheditch.Itwasindeedasorrysight.
Panelsandwindowssmashed,axleshopelesslybent,onewheeloff,sardine-tinsscatteredoverthewideworld,andthebirdinthebird-cagesobbingpitifullyandcallingtobeletout.
TheRatcametohelphim,buttheirunitedeffortswerenotsufficienttorightthecart.'Hi!Toad!'theycried.'Comeandbearahand,can'tyou!'
TheToadneveransweredaword,orbudgedfromhisseatintheroad;sotheywenttoseewhatwasthematterwithhim.
Theyfoundhiminasortofatrance,ahappysmileonhisface,hiseyesstillfixedonthedustywakeoftheirdestroyer.
Atintervalshewasstillheardtomurmur'Poop-poop!'
TheRatshookhimbytheshoulder.'Areyoucomingtohelpus,Toad?'hedemandedsternly.
'Glorious,stirringsight!'murmuredToad,neverofferingtomove.'Thepoetryofmotion!TheREALwaytotravel!TheONLYwaytotravel!Hereto-day—innextweekto-morrow!
Villagesskipped,townsandcitiesjumped—alwayssomebodyelse'shorizon!Obliss!Opoop-poop!Omy!Omy!'
'OSTOPbeinganass,Toad!'criedtheMoledespairingly.
'AndtothinkIneverKNEW!'wentontheToadinadreamymonotone.
'Allthosewastedyearsthatliebehindme,Ineverknew,neverevenDREAMT!
ButNOW—butnowthatIknow,nowthatIfullyrealise!
Owhataflowerytrackliesspreadbeforeme,henceforth!
Whatdust-cloudsshallspringupbehindmeasIspeedonmyrecklessway!
WhatcartsIshallflingcarelesslyintotheditchinthewakeofmymagnificentonset!
Horridlittlecarts—commoncarts—canary-colouredcarts!'
'Whatarewetodowithhim?'askedtheMoleoftheWaterRat.
'Nothingatall,'repliedtheRatfirmly.
'Becausethereisreallynothingtobedone.Yousee,Iknowhimfromofold.Heisnowpossessed.
Hehasgotanewcraze,anditalwaystakeshimthatway,initsfirststage.
He'llcontinuelikethatfordaysnow,likeananimalwalkinginahappydream,quiteuselessforallpracticalpurposes.Nevermindhim.
Let'sgoandseewhatthereistobedoneaboutthecart.'
Acarefulinspectionshowedthemthat,eveniftheysucceededinrightingitbythemselves,thecartwouldtravelnolonger.
Theaxleswereinahopelessstate,andthemissingwheelwasshatteredintopieces.
TheRatknottedthehorse'sreinsoverhisbackandtookhimbythehead,carryingthebirdcageanditshystericaloccupantintheotherhand.'Comeon!'hesaidgrimlytotheMole.
'It'sfiveorsixmilestothenearesttown,andweshalljusthavetowalkit.Thesoonerwemakeastartthebetter.'
'ButwhataboutToad?'askedtheMoleanxiously,astheysetofftogether.
'Wecan'tleavehimhere,sittinginthemiddleoftheroadbyhimself,inthedistractedstatehe'sin!It'snotsafe.
SupposinganotherThingweretocomealong?'
'O,BOTHERToad,'saidtheRatsavagely;'I'vedonewithhim!'
Theyhadnotproceededveryfarontheirway,however,whentherewasapatteringoffeetbehindthem,andToadcaughtthemupandthrustapawinsidetheelbowofeachofthem;stillbreathingshortandstaringintovacancy.
'Now,lookhere,Toad!'saidtheRatsharply:'assoonaswegettothetown,you'llhavetogostraighttothepolice-station,andseeiftheyknowanythingaboutthatmotor-carandwhoitbelongsto,andlodgeacomplaintagainstit.
Andthenyou'llhavetogotoablacksmith'sorawheelwright'sandarrangeforthecarttobefetchedandmendedandputtorights.
It'lltaketime,butit'snotquiteahopelesssmash.
Meanwhile,theMoleandIwillgotoaninnandfindcomfortableroomswherewecanstaytillthecart'sready,andtillyournerveshaverecoveredtheirshock.'
'Police-station!Complaint!'murmuredToaddreamily.
'MeCOMPLAINofthatbeautiful,thatheavenlyvisionthathasbeenvouchsafedme!MENDTHECART!I'vedonewithcartsforever.
Ineverwanttoseethecart,ortohearofit,again.O,Ratty!
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,theyescortedthespell-bound,sleep-walkingToadtohisdoor,puthiminsideit,andinstructedhishousekeepertofeedhim,undresshim,andputhimtobed.
Thentheygotouttheirboatfromtheboat-house,sculleddowntheriverhome,andataverylatehoursatdowntosupperintheirowncosyriversideparlour,totheRat'sgreatjoyandcontentment.
ThefollowingeveningtheMole,whohadrisenlateandtakenthingsveryeasyallday,wassittingonthebankfishing,whentheRat,whohadbeenlookinguphisfriendsandgossiping,camestrollingalongtofindhim.'Heardthenews?'hesaid.
'There'snothingelsebeingtalkedabout,allalongtheriverbank.
ToadwentuptoTownbyanearlytrainthismorning.
Andhehasorderedalargeandveryexpensivemotor-car.'
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