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and won them back to his side； ‘Ratty！ I see that I have been a headstrong
and a wilful Toad！ Henceforth； believe me； I will be humble and
submissive； and will take no action without your kind advice and full
approval！'
‘If that is really so；' said the good…natured Rat； already appeased； ‘then
my advice to you is； considering the lateness of the hour； to sit down and
have your supper； which will be on the table in a minute； and be very
patient。 For I am convinced that we can do nothing until we have seen the
Mole and the Badger； and heard their latest news； and held conference and
taken their advice in this difficult matter。'
‘Oh； ah； yes； of course； the Mole and the Badger；' said Toad； lightly。
‘What's become of them； the dear fellows？ I had forgotten all about them。'
‘Well may you ask！' said the Rat reproachfully。 ‘While you were riding
about the country in expensive motor…cars； and galloping proudly on
blood…horses； and breakfasting on the fat of the land； those two poor
devoted animals have been camping out in the open； in every sort of
weather； living very rough by day and lying very hard by night； watching
over your house； patrolling your boundaries； keeping a constant eye on the
stoats and the weasels； scheming and planning and contriving how to get
your property back for you。 You don't deserve to have such true and loyal
friends； Toad； you don't； really。 Some day； when it's too late； you'll be
sorry you didn't value them more while you had them！'
‘I'm an ungrateful beast； I know；' sobbed Toad； shedding bitter tears。
‘Let me go out and find them； out into the cold； dark night； and share their
hardships； and try and prove byHold on a bit！ Surely I heard the chink
of dishes on a tray！ Supper's here at last； hooray！ Come on； Ratty！'
The Rat remembered that poor Toad had been on prison fare for a
considerable time； and that large allowances had therefore to be made。 He
followed him to the table accordingly； and hospitably encouraged him in
his gallant efforts to make up for past privations。
They had just finished their meal and resumed their arm…chairs； when
there came a heavy knock at the door。
Toad was nervous； but the Rat； nodding mysteriously at him； went
straight up to the door and opened it； and in walked Mr。 Badger。
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He had all the appearance of one who for some nights had been kept
away from home and all its little comforts and conveniences。 His shoes
were covered with mud； and he was looking very rough and touzled； but
then he had never been a very smart man； the Badger； at the best of times。
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
mor