按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reappeared； solemnly leading by the paw a very limp and dejected Toad。
His skin hung baggily about him； his legs wobbled； and his cheeks were
furrowed by the tears so plentifully called forth by the Badger's moving
discourse。
‘Sit down there； Toad；' said the Badger kindly； pointing to a chair。 ‘My
friends；' he went on； ‘I am pleased to inform you that Toad has at last seen
the error of his ways。 He is truly sorry for his misguided conduct in the
past； and he has undertaken to give up motor…cars entirely and for ever。 I
have his solemn promise to that effect。'
‘That is very good news；' said the Mole gravely。
‘Very good news indeed；' observed the Rat dubiously； ‘if only IF
only'
He was looking very hard at Toad as he said this； and could not help
thinking he perceived something vaguely resembling a twinkle in that
animal's still sorrowful eye。
‘There's only one thing more to be done；' continued the gratified
Badger。 ‘Toad； I want you solemnly to repeat； before your friends here；
what you fully admitted to me in the smoking…room just now。 First； you
are sorry for what you've done； and you see the folly of it all？'
There was a long； long pause。 Toad looked desperately this way and
that； while the other animals waited in grave silence。 At last he spoke。
‘No！' he said； a little sullenly； but stoutly； ‘I'm NOT sorry。 And it
wasn't folly at all！ It was simply glorious！'
‘What？' cried the Badger； greatly scandalised。 ‘You backsliding animal；
didn't you tell me just now； in there'
‘Oh； yes； yes； in THERE；' said Toad impatiently。 ‘I'd have said
anything in THERE。 You're so eloquent； dear Badger； and so moving； and
so convincing； and put all your points so frightfully wellyou can do what
you like with me in THERE； and you know it。 But I've been searching my
64
… Page 65…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
mind since； and going over things in it； and I find that I'm not a bit sorry or
repentant really； so it's no earthly good saying I am； now； is it？'
‘Then you don't promise；' said the Badger； ‘never to touch a motor…car
again？'
‘Certainly not！' replied Toad emphatically。 ‘On the contrary； I
faithfully promise that the very first motor…car I see； poop… poop！ off I go
in it！'
‘Told you so； didn't I？' observed the Rat to the Mole。
‘Very well； then；' said the Badger firmly； rising to his feet。 ‘Since you
won't yield to persuasion； we'll try what force can do。 I feared it would
come to this all along。 You've often asked us three to come and stay with
you； Toad； in this handsome house of yours； well； now we're going to。
When we've converted you to a proper point of view we may quit； but not
before。 Take him upstairs； you two； and lock him up in his bedroom； while
we arrange matters between ourselves。'
‘It's for your own good； Toady； you know；' said the Rat kindly； as Toad；
kicking and struggling； was hauled up the stairs by his two faithful friends。
‘Think what fun we shall all have together； just as we used to； when
you've quite got over this this painful attack of yours！'
‘We'll take great care of everything for you till you're well； Toad；' said
the Mole； ‘and we'll see your money isn't wasted； as it has been。'
‘No more of those regrettable incidents with the police； Toad；' said the
Rat； as they thrust him into his bedroom。
‘And no more weeks in hospital； being ordered about by female nurses；
Toad；' added the Mole； turning the key on him。
They descended the stair； Toad shouting abuse at them through the
keyhole； and the three friends then met in conference on the situation。
‘It's going to be a tedious business；' said the Badger； sighing。 ‘I've
never seen Toad so determined。 However； we will see it out。 He must
never be left an instant unguarded。 We shall have to take it in turns to be
with him； till the poison has worked itself out of his system。'
They arranged watches accordingly。 Each animal took it in turns to
sleep in Toad's room at night； and they divided the day up between them。
At first Toad was undoubtedly very trying to his careful guardians。 When
65
… Page 66…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
his violent paroxysms possessed him he would arrange bedroom chairs in
rude resemblance of a motor…car and would crouch on the foremost of
them； bent forward and staring fixedly ahead； making uncouth and ghastly
noises； till the climax was reached； when； turning a complete somersault；
he would lie prostrate amidst the ruins of the chairs； apparently completely
satisfied for the moment。 As time passed； however； these painful seizures
grew gradually less frequent； and his friends strove to divert his mind into
fresh channels。 But his interest in other matters did not seem to revive； and
he grew apparently languid and depressed。
One fine morning the Rat； whose turn it was to go on duty； went
upstairs to relieve Badger； whom he found fidgeting to be off and stretch
his legs in a long ramble round his wood and down his earths and burrows。
‘Toad's still in bed；' he told the Rat； outside the door。 ‘Can't get much out
of him； except； 〃O leave him alone； he wants nothing； perhaps he'll be
better presently； it may pass off in time； don't be unduly anxious；〃 and so
on。 Now； you look out； Rat！ When Toad's quiet and submissive and
playing at being the hero of a Sunday…school prize； then he's at his
artfullest。 There's sure to be something up。 I know him。 Well； now； I must
be off。'
‘How are you to…day； old chap？' inquired the Rat cheerfully； as he
approached Toad's bedside。
He had to wait some minutes for an answer。 At last a feeble voice
replied； ‘Thank you so much； dear Ratty！ So good of you to inquire！ But
first tell me how you are yourself； and the excellent Mole？'
‘O； WE'RE all right；' replied the Rat。 ‘Mole；' he added incautiously； ‘is
going out for a run round with Badger。 They'll be out till luncheon time； so
you and I will spend a pleasant morning together； and I'll do my best to
amuse you。 Now jump up； there's a good fellow； and don't lie moping
there on a fine morning like this！'
‘Dear； kind Rat；' murmured Toad； ‘how little you realise my condition；
and how very far I am from 〃jumping up〃 nowif ever！ But do not trouble
about me。 I hate being a burden to my friends； and I do not expect to be
one much longer。 Indeed； I almost hope not。'
‘Well； I hope not； too；' said the Rat heartily。 ‘You've been a fine bother
66
… Page 67…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
to us all this time； and I'm glad to hear it's going to stop。 And in weather
like this； and the boating season just beginning！ It's too bad of you； Toad！
It isn't the trouble we mind； but you're making us miss such an awful lot。'
‘I'm afraid it IS the trouble you mind； though；' replied the Toad
languidly。 ‘I can quite understand it。 It's natural enough。 You're tired of
bothering about me。 I mustn't ask you to do anything further。 I'm a
nuisance； I know。'
‘You are； indeed；' said the Rat。 ‘But I tell you； I'd take any troubl