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！
French rolls and any quantity of cheese； butter； and celery。 They were just
about to sit down when the Mole clambered in through the window；
chuckling； with an armful of rifles。
‘It's all over；' he reported。 ‘From what I can make out； as soon as the
stoats； who were very nervous and jumpy already； heard the shrieks and
the yells and the uproar inside the hall； some of them threw down their
rifles and fled。 The others stood fast for a bit； but when the weasels came
rushing out upon them they thought they were betrayed； and the stoats
grappled with the weasels； and the weasels fought to get away； and they
wrestled and wriggled and punched each other； and rolled over and over；
till most of 'em rolled into the river！ They've all disappeared by now； one
way or another； and I've got their rifles。 So that's all right！'
‘Excellent and deserving animal！' said the Badger； his mouth full of
chicken and trifle。 ‘Now； there's just one more thing I want you to do；
Mole； before you sit down to your supper along of us； and I wouldn't
trouble you only I know I can trust you to see a thing done； and I wish I
could say the same of every one I know。 I'd send Rat； if he wasn't a poet。 I
want you to take those fellows on the floor there upstairs with you； and
have some bedrooms cleaned out and tidied up and made really
comfortable。 See that they sweep UNDER the beds； and put clean sheets
and pillow…cases on； and turn down one corner of the bed…clothes； just as
you know it ought to be done； and have a can of hot water； and clean
towels； and fresh cakes of soap； put in each room。 And then you can give
them a licking a…piece； if it's any satisfaction to you； and put them out by
the back…door； and we shan't see any more of THEM； I fancy。 And then
come along and have some of this cold tongue。 It's first rate。 I'm very
pleased with you； Mole！'
The goodnatured Mole picked up a stick； formed his prisoners up in a
line on the floor； gave them the order ‘Quick march！' and led his squad off
to the upper floor。 After a time； he appeared again； smiling； and said that
every room was ready； and as clean as a new pin。 ‘And I didn't have to lick
them； either；' he added。 ‘I thought； on the whole； they had had licking
enough for one night； and the weasels； when I put the point to them； quite
145
… Page 146…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
agreed with me； and said they wouldn't think of troubling me。 They were
very penitent； and said they were extremely sorry for what they had done。
but it was all the fault of the Chief Weasel and the stoats； and if ever they
could do anything for us at any time to make up； we had only got to
mention it。 So I gave them a roll a…piece； and let them out at the back； and
off they ran； as hard as they could！'
Then the Mole pulled his chair up to the table； and pitched into the
cold tongue； and Toad； like the gentleman he was； put all his jealousy from
him； and said heartily； ‘Thank you kindly； dear Mole； for all your pains
and trouble tonight； and especially for your cleverness this morning！' The
Badger was pleased at that； and said； ‘There spoke my brave Toad！' So
they finished their supper in great joy and contentment； and presently
retired to rest between clean sheets； safe in Toad's ancestral home； won
back by matchless valour； consummate strategy； and a proper handling of
sticks。
The following morning； Toad； who had overslept himself as usual；
came down to breakfast disgracefully late； and found on the table a certain
quantity of egg…shells； some fragments of cold and leathery toast； a coffee…
pot three…fourths empty； and really very little else； which did not tend to
improve his temper； considering that； after all； it was his own house。
Through the French windows of the breakfast…room he could see the Mole
and the Water Rat sitting in wicker…chairs out on the lawn； evidently
telling each other stories； roaring with laughter and kicking their short legs
up in the air。 The Badger； who was in an arm… chair and deep in the
morning paper； merely looked up and nodded when Toad entered the room。
But Toad knew his man； so he sat down and made the best breakfast he
could； merely observing to himself that he would get square with the
others sooner or later。 When he had nearly finished； the Badger looked up
and remarked rather shortly： ‘I'm sorry； Toad； but I'm afraid there's a heavy
morning's work in front of you。 You see； we really ought to have a
Banquet at once； to celebrate this affair。 It's expected of youin fact； it's
the rule。'
‘O； all right！' said the Toad； readily。 ‘Anything to oblige。 Though why
on earth you should want to have a Banquet in the morning I cannot
146
… Page 147…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
understand。 But you know I do not live to please myself； but merely to
find out what my friends want； and then try and arrange it for 'em； you
dear old Badger！'
‘Don't pretend to be stupider than you really are；' replied the Badger；
crossly； ‘and don't chuckle and splutter in your coffee while you're talking；
it's not manners。 What I mean is； the Banquet will be at night； of course；
but the invitations will have to be written and got off at once； and you've
got to write 'em。 Now； sit down at that tablethere's stacks of letter…paper
on it； with 〃Toad Hall〃 at the top in blue and goldand write invitations to
all our friends； and if you stick to it we shall get them out before luncheon。
And I'LL bear a hand； too； and take my share of the burden。 I'LL order the
Banquet。'
‘What！' cried Toad； dismayed。 ‘Me stop indoors and write a lot of
rotten letters on a jolly morning like this； when I want to go around my
property； and set everything and everybody to rights； and swagger about
and enjoy myself！ Certainly not！ I'll beI'll see youStop a minute；
though！ Why； of course； dear Badger！ What is my pleasure or convenience
compared with that of others！ You wish it done； and it shall be done。 Go；
Badger； order the Banquet； order what you like； then join our young
friends outside in their innocent mirth； oblivious of me and my cares and
toils。 I sacrifice this fair morning on the altar of duty and friendship！'
The Badger looked at him very suspiciously； but Toad's frank； open
countenance made it difficult to suggest any unworthy motive in this
change of attitude。 He quitted the room； accordingly； in the direction of the
kitchen； and as soon as the door had closed behind him； Toad hurried to
the writing…table。 A fine idea had occurred to him while he was talking。 He
WOULD write the invitations； and he would take care to mention the
leading part he had taken in the fight； and how he had laid the Chief
Weasel flat； and he would hint at his adventures； and what a career of
triumph he had to tell about； and on the fly…leaf he would set out a sort of
a programme of entertainment for the evening something like this； as he
sketched it out in his head：