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！
day； when a heavy knock sounded at the door。
‘Bother！' said the Rat； all over egg。 ‘See who it is； Mole； like a good
chap； since you've finished。'
The Mole went to attend the summons； and the Rat heard him utter a
cry of surprise。 Then he flung the parlour door open； and announced with
much importance； ‘Mr。 Badger！'
This was a wonderful thing； indeed； that the Badger should pay a
formal call on them； or indeed on anybody。 He generally had to be caught；
if you wanted him badly； as he slipped quietly along a hedgerow of an
early morning or a late evening； or else hunted up in his own house in the
middle of the Wood； which was a serious undertaking。
The Badger strode heavily into the room； and stood looking at the two
animals with an expression full of seriousness。 The Rat let his egg…spoon
fall on the table…cloth； and sat open…mouthed。
‘The hour has come！' said the Badger at last with great solemnity。
‘What hour？' asked the Rat uneasily； glancing at the clock on the
mantelpiece。
‘WHOSE hour； you should rather say；' replied the Badger。 ‘Why；
Toad's hour！ The hour of Toad！ I said I would take him in hand as soon as
the winter was well over； and I'm going to take him in hand to…day！'
‘Toad's hour； of course！' cried the Mole delightedly。 ‘Hooray！ I
61
… Page 62…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
remember now！ WE'LL teach him to be a sensible Toad！'
‘This very morning；' continued the Badger； taking an arm…chair； ‘as I
learnt last night from a trustworthy source； another new and exceptionally
powerful motor…car will arrive at Toad Hall on approval or return。 At this
very moment； perhaps； Toad is busy arraying himself in those singularly
hideous habiliments so dear to him； which transform him from a
（comparatively） good…looking Toad into an Object which throws any
decent…minded animal that comes across it into a violent fit。 We must be
up and doing； ere it is too late。 You two animals will accompany me
instantly to Toad Hall； and the work of rescue shall be accomplished。'
‘Right you are！' cried the Rat； starting up。 ‘We'll rescue the poor
unhappy animal！ We'll convert him！ He'll be the most converted Toad that
ever was before we've done with him！'
They set off up the road on their mission of mercy； Badger leading the
way。 Animals when in company walk in a proper and sensible manner； in
single file； instead of sprawling all across the road and being of no use or
support to each other in case of sudden trouble or danger。
They reached the carriage…drive of Toad Hall to find； as the Badger
had anticipated； a shiny new motor…car； of great size； painted a bright red
（Toad's favourite colour）； standing in front of the house。 As they neared
the door it was flung open； and Mr。 Toad； arrayed in goggles； cap； gaiters；
and enormous overcoat； came swaggering down the steps； drawing on his
gauntleted gloves。
‘Hullo！ come on； you fellows！' he cried cheerfully on catching sight of
them。 ‘You're just in time to come with me for a jollyto come for a jolly…
…for aerjolly'
His hearty accents faltered and fell away as he noticed the stern
unbending look on the countenances of his silent friends； and his invitation
remained unfinished。
The Badger strode up the steps。 ‘Take him inside；' he said sternly to his
companions。 Then； as Toad was hustled through the door； struggling and
protesting； he turned to the chauffeur in charge of the new motor…car。
‘I'm afraid you won't be wanted to…day；' he said。 ‘Mr。 Toad has
changed his mind。 He will not require the car。 Please understand that this
62
… Page 63…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
is final。 You needn't wait。' Then he followed the others inside and shut the
door。
‘Now then！' he said to the Toad； when the four of them stood together
in the Hall； ‘first of all； take those ridiculous things off！'
‘Shan't！' replied Toad； with great spirit。 ‘What is the meaning of this
gross outrage？ I demand an instant explanation。'
‘Take them off him； then； you two；' ordered the Badger briefly。
They had to lay Toad out on the floor； kicking and calling all sorts of
names； before they could get to work properly。 Then the Rat sat on him；
and the Mole got his motor…clothes off him bit by bit； and they stood him
up on his legs again。 A good deal of his blustering spirit seemed to have
evaporated with the removal of his fine panoply。 Now that he was merely
Toad； and no longer the Terror of the Highway； he giggled feebly and
looked from one to the other appealingly； seeming quite to understand the
situation。
‘You knew it must come to this； sooner or later； Toad；' the Badger
explained severely。
You've disregarded all the warnings we've given you； you've gone on
squandering the money your father left you； and you're getting us animals
a bad name in the district by your furious driving and your smashes and
your rows with the police。 Independence is all very well； but we animals
never allow our friends to make fools of themselves beyond a certain limit；
and that limit you've reached。 Now； you're a good fellow in many respects；
and I don't want to be too hard on you。 I'll make one more effort to bring
you to reason。 You will come with me into the smoking…room； and there
you will hear some facts about yourself； and we'll see whether you come
out of that room the same Toad that you went in。'
He took Toad firmly by the arm； led him into the smoking…room； and
closed the door behind them。
‘THAT'S no good！' said the Rat contemptuously。 ‘TALKING to Toad'll
never cure him。 He'll SAY anything。'
They made themselves comfortable in armchairs and waited patiently。
Through the closed door they could just hear the long continuous drone of
the Badger's voice； rising and falling in waves of oratory； and presently
63
… Page 64…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
they noticed that the sermon began to be punctuated at intervals by long…
drawn sobs； evidently proceeding from the bosom of Toad； who was a
soft…hearted and affectionate fellow； very easily convertedfor the time
being to any point of view。
After some three…quarters of an hour the door opened； and the Badger
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