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He came solemnly up to Toad； shook him by the paw； and said； ‘Welcome
home； Toad！ Alas！ what am I saying？ Home； indeed！ This is a poor home…
coming。 Unhappy Toad！' Then he turned his back on him； sat down to the
table； drew his chair up； and helped himself to a large slice of cold pie。
Toad was quite alarmed at this very serious and portentous style of
greeting； but the Rat whispered to him； ‘Never mind； don't take any notice；
and don't say anything to him just yet。 He's always rather low and
despondent when he's wanting his victuals。 In half an hour's time he'll be
quite a different animal。'
So they waited in silence； and presently there came another and a
lighter knock。 The Rat； with a nod to Toad； went to the door and ushered
in the Mole； very shabby and unwashed； with bits of hay and straw
sticking in his fur。
‘Hooray！ Here's old Toad！' cried the Mole； his face beaming。 ‘Fancy
having you back again！' And he began to dance round him。 ‘We never
dreamt you would turn up so soon！ Why； you must have managed to
escape； you clever； ingenious； intelligent Toad！' The Rat； alarmed； pulled
him by the elbow； but it was too late。 Toad was puffing and swelling
already。
‘Clever？ O； no！' he said。 ‘I'm not really clever； according to my friends。
I've only broken out of the strongest prison in England； that's all！ And
captured a railway train and escaped on it； that's all！ And disguised myself
and gone about the country humbugging everybody； that's all！ O； no！ I'm a
stupid ass； I am！ I'll tell you one or two of my little adventures； Mole； and
you shall judge for yourself！'
‘Well； well；' said the Mole； moving towards the supper…table；
‘supposing you talk while I eat。 Not a bite since breakfast！ O my！ O my！'
And he sat down and helped himself liberally to cold beef and pickles。
Toad straddled on the hearth…rug； thrust his paw into his trouser…pocket
and pulled out a handful of silver。 ‘Look at that！' he cried； displaying it。
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‘That's not so bad； is it； for a few minutes' work？ And how do you think I
done it； Mole？ Horse… dealing！ That's how I done it！'
‘Go on； Toad；' said the Mole； immensely interested。
‘Toad； do be quiet； please！' said the Rat。 ‘And don't you egg him on；
Mole； when you know what he is； but please tell us as soon as possible
what the position is； and what's best to be done； now that Toad is back at
last。'
‘The position's about as bad as it can be；' replied the Mole grumpily；
‘and as for what's to be done； why； blest if I know！ The Badger and I have
been round and round the place； by night and by day； always the same
thing。 Sentries posted everywhere； guns poked out at us； stones thrown at
us； always an animal on the look…out； and when they see us； my！ how they
do laugh！ That's what annoys me most！'
‘It's a very difficult situation；' said the Rat； reflecting deeply。 ‘But I
think I see now； in the depths of my mind； what Toad really ought to do。 I
will tell you。 He ought to'
‘No； he oughtn't！' shouted the Mole； with his mouth full。 ‘Nothing of
the sort！ You don't understand。 What he ought to do is； he ought to'
‘Well； I shan't do it； anyway！' cried Toad； getting excited。 ‘I'm not
going to be ordered about by you fellows！ It's my house we're talking
about； and I know exactly what to do； and I'll tell you。 I'm going to' By
this time they were all three talking at once； at the top of their voices； and
the noise was simply deafening； when a thin； dry voice made itself heard；
saying； ‘Be quiet at once； all of you！' and instantly every one was silent。
It was the Badger； who； having finished his pie； had turned round in
his chair and was looking at them severely。 When he saw that he had
secured their attention； and that they were evidently waiting for him to
address them； he turned back to the table again and reached out for the
cheese。 And so great was the respect commanded by the solid qualities of
that admirable animal； that not another word was uttered until he had quite
finished his repast and brushed the crumbs from his knees。 The Toad
fidgeted a good deal； but the Rat held him firmly down。
When the Badger had quite done； he got up from his seat and stood
before the fireplace； reflecting deeply。 At last he spoke。
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‘Toad！' he said severely。 ‘You bad； troublesome little animal！ Aren't
you ashamed of youself？ What do you think your father； my old friend；
would have said if he had been here to…night； and had known of all your
goings on？'
Toad； who was on the sofa by this time； with his legs up； rolled over
on his face； shaken by sobs of contrition。
‘There； there！' went on the Badger； more kindly。 ‘Never mind。 Stop
crying。 We're going to let bygones be bygones； and try and turn over a new
leaf。 But what the Mole says is quite true。 The stoats are on guard； at every
point； and they make the best sentinels in the world。 It's quite useless to
think of attacking the place。 They're too strong for us。'
‘Then it's all over；' sobbed the Toad； crying into the sofa cushions。 ‘I
shall go and enlist for a soldier； and never see my dear Toad Hall any
more！'
‘Come； cheer up； Toady！' said the Badger。 ‘There are more ways of
getting back a place than taking it by storm。 I haven't said my last word
yet。 Now I'm going to tell you a great secret。'
Toad sat up slowly and dried his eyes。 Secrets had an immense
attraction for him； because he never could keep one； and he enjoyed the
sort of unhallowed thrill he experienced when he went and told another
animal； after having faithfully promised not to。
‘Thereisanundergroundpassage；' said the Badger； impressively；
‘that leads from the river…bank； quite near here； right up into the middle of
Toad Hall。'
‘O； nonsense！ Badger；' said Toad； rather airily。 ‘You've been listening
to some of the yarns they spin in the public…houses about here。 I know
every inch of Toad Hall； inside and out。 Nothing of the sort； I do assure
you！'
‘My young friend；' said the Badger； with great severity； ‘your father；
who was a worthy animala lot worthier than some others I knowwas a
particular friend of mine； and told me a great deal he wouldn't have dreamt
of telling you。 He discovered that passagehe didn't make it； of course；
that was done hundreds of years before he ever came to live thereand he
repaired it and cleaned it out； because he thought it might come in useful
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some day； in case of trouble or danger； and he showed it to me。 〃Don't let
my son know about it；〃 he said。 〃He's a good boy； but very light and
volatile in character； and simply cannot hold his tongue。 If he's ever in a
real fix； and it would be of use to him； you may tell him about the secret
passage； but not before。〃'
The other animals looked hard at Toad to see how he would take it。
Toad was inclined to be sulky