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THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOAD
The front door of the hollow tree faced eastwards； so Toad was called
at an early hour； partly by the bright sunlight streaming in on him； partly
by the exceeding coldness of his toes； which made him dream that he was
at home in bed in his own handsome room with the Tudor window； on a
cold winter's night； and his bedclothes had got up； grumbling and
protesting they couldn't stand the cold any longer； and had run downstairs
to the kitchen fire to warm themselves； and he had followed； on bare feet；
along miles and miles of icy stone…paved passages； arguing and
beseeching them to be reasonable。 He would probably have been aroused
much earlier； had he not slept for some weeks on straw over stone flags；
and almost forgotten the friendly feeling of thick blankets pulled well up
round the chin。
Sitting up； he rubbed his eyes first and his complaining toes next；
wondered for a moment where he was； looking round for familiar stone
wall and little barred window； then； with a leap of the heart； remembered
everythinghis escape； his flight； his pursuit； remembered； first and best
thing of all； that he was free！
Free！ The word and the thought alone were worth fifty blankets。 He
was warm from end to end as he thought of the jolly world outside；
waiting eagerly for him to make his triumphal entrance； ready to serve him
and play up to him； anxious to help him and to keep him company； as it
always had been in days of old before misfortune fell upon him。 He shook
himself and combed the dry leaves out of his hair with his fingers； and； his
toilet complete； marched forth into the comfortable morning sun； cold but
confident； hungry but hopeful； all nervous terrors of yesterday dispelled by
rest and sleep and frank and heartening sunshine。
He had the world all to himself； that early summer morning。 The dewy
woodland； as he threaded it； was solitary and still： the green fields that
succeeded the trees were his own to do as he liked with； the road itself；
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when he reached it； in that loneliness that was everywhere； seemed； like a
stray dog； to be looking anxiously for company。 Toad； however； was
looking for something that could talk； and tell him clearly which way he
ought to go。 It is all very well； when you have a light heart； and a clear
conscience； and money in your pocket； and nobody scouring the country
for you to drag you off to prison again； to follow where the road beckons
and points； not caring whither。 The practical Toad cared very much indeed；
and he could have kicked the road for its helpless silence when every
minute was of importance to him。
The reserved rustic road was presently joined by a shy little brother in
the shape of a canal； which took its hand and ambled along by its side in
perfect confidence； but with the same tongue…tied； uncommunicative
attitude towards strangers。 ‘Bother them！' said Toad to himself。 ‘But；
anyhow； one thing's clear。 They must both be coming FROM somewhere；
and going TO somewhere。 You can't get over that。 Toad； my boy！' So he
marched on patiently by the water's edge。
Round a bend in the canal came plodding a solitary horse； stooping
forward as if in anxious thought。 From rope traces attached to his collar
stretched a long line； taut； but dipping with his stride； the further part of it
dripping pearly drops。 Toad let the horse pass； and stood waiting for what
the fates were sending him。
With a pleasant swirl of quiet water at its blunt bow the barge slid up
alongside of him； its gaily painted gunwale level with the towing…path； its
sole occupant a big stout woman wearing a linen sun…bonnet； one brawny
arm laid along the tiller。
‘A nice morning； ma'am！' she remarked to Toad； as she drew up level
with him。
‘I dare say it is； ma'am！' responded Toad politely； as he walked along
the tow…path abreast of her。 ‘I dare it IS a nice morning to them that's not
in sore trouble； like what I am。 Here's my married daughter； she sends off
to me post…haste to come to her at once； so off I comes； not knowing what
may be happening or going to happen； but fearing the worst； as you will
understand； ma'am； if you're a mother； too。 And I've left my business to
look after itselfI'm in the washing and laundering line； you must know；
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ma'amand I've left my young children to look after themselves； and a
more mischievous and troublesome set of young imps doesn't exist； ma'am；
and I've lost all my money； and lost my way； and as for what may be
happening to my married daughter； why； I don't like to think of it； ma'am！'
‘Where might your married daughter be living； ma'am？' asked the
barge…woman。
‘She lives near to the river； ma'am；' replied Toad。 ‘Close to a fine
house called Toad Hall； that's somewheres hereabouts in these parts。
Perhaps you may have heard of it。'
‘Toad Hall？ Why； I'm going that way myself；' replied the barge…
woman。 ‘This canal joins the river some miles further on； a little above
Toad Hall； and then it's an easy walk。 You come along in the barge with
me； and I'll give you a lift。'
She steered the barge close to the bank； and Toad； with many humble
and grateful acknowledgments； stepped lightly on board and sat down
with great satisfaction。 ‘Toad's luck again！' thought he。 ‘I always come out
on top！'
‘So you're in the washing business； ma'am？' said the barge…woman
politely； as they glided along。 ‘And a very good business you've got too； I
dare say； if I'm not making too free in saying so。'
‘Finest business in the whole country；' said Toad airily。 ‘All the gentry
come to mewouldn't go to any one else if they were paid； they know me
so well。 You see； I understand my work thoroughly； and attend to it all
myself。 Washing； ironing； clear…starching； making up gents' fine shirts for
evening wear everything's done under my own eye！'
‘But surely you don't DO all that work yourself； ma'am？' asked the
barge…woman respectfully。
‘O； I have girls；' said Toad lightly： ‘twenty girls or thereabouts； always
at work。 But you know what GIRLS are； ma'am！ Nasty little hussies； that's
what _I_ call 'em！'
‘So do I； too；' said the barge…woman with great heartiness。 ‘But I dare
say you set yours to rights； the idle trollops！ And are you very fond of
washing？'
‘I love it；' said Toad。 ‘I simply dote on it。 Never so happy as when I've
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got both arms in the wash…tub。 But； then； it comes so easy to me！ No
trouble at all！ A real pleasure； I assure you； ma'am！'
‘What a bit of luck； meeting you！' observed the barge…woman；
thoughtfully。 ‘A regular piece of good fortune for both of us！'
‘Why； what do you mean？' asked Toad； nervously。
‘Well； look at me； now；' replied the barge…woman。 ‘_I_ like washing；
too； just the same as you do； and for that matter； whether I like it or not I
have got to do all my own； naturally； moving about as I do。 Now my
husband； he's such a fellow for shirking his work and leaving the barge to
me； that never a moment do I get for seeing to my own affairs。 By rights
he ought to be here now； either steering or attending to the horse； though
luckily the horse has sense enough to attend to himself。 Instead of which；
he's gone off with the dog； to see if they can't pick up a rabbit for dinner
somewhere。 Says he'll catch me up at the next lock。 Well； that's as may be…
…I don't trust him； once he gets off with that dog； who's worse than he is。
But meantime； how am I to get on with my washing？'
‘O； never mind about the washing；' said Toad； not liking the subject。
‘Try and fix your mind on that rabbit。 A nice fat young rabbit； I'll be bound。
Got any onions？'
‘I can't fix my mind on anything but my washing；' said the barge…
woman； ‘and I wonder you can be talking of rabbi