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glances。
As soon as the meal was over； Toad thrust his paws deep into his
trouser…pockets； remarked casually； ‘Well； look after yourselves； you
fellows！ Ask for anything you want！' and was swaggering off in the
direction of the garden； where he wanted to think out an idea or two for his
coming speeches； when the Rat caught him by the arm。
Toad rather suspected what he was after； and did his best to get away；
but when the Badger took him firmly by the other arm he began to see that
the game was up。 The two animals conducted him between them into the
small smoking…room that opened out of the entrance…hall； shut the door；
and put him into a chair。 Then they both stood in front of him； while Toad
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sat silent and regarded them with much suspicion and ill…humour。
‘Now； look here； Toad；' said the Rat。 ‘It's about this Banquet； and very
sorry I am to have to speak to you like this。 But we want you to
understand clearly； once and for all； that there are going to be no speeches
and no songs。 Try and grasp the fact that on this occasion we're not
arguing with you； we're just telling you。'
Toad saw that he was trapped。 They understood him； they saw through
him； they had got ahead of him。 His pleasant dream was shattered。
‘Mayn't I sing them just one LITTLE song？' he pleaded piteously。
‘No； not ONE little song；' replied the Rat firmly； though his heart bled
as he noticed the trembling lip of the poor disappointed Toad。 ‘It's no good；
Toady； you know well that your songs are all conceit and boasting and
vanity； and your speeches are all self…praise andandwell； and gross
exaggeration and and'
‘And gas；' put in the Badger； in his common way。
‘It's for your own good； Toady；' went on the Rat。 ‘You know you
MUST turn over a new leaf sooner or later； and now seems a splendid time
to begin； a sort of turning…point in your career。 Please don't think that
saying all this doesn't hurt me more than it hurts you。'
Toad remained a long while plunged in thought。 At last he raised his
head； and the traces of strong emotion were visible on his features。 ‘You
have conquered； my friends；' he said in broken accents。 ‘It was； to be sure；
but a small thing that I asked merely leave to blossom and expand for yet
one more evening； to let myself go and hear the tumultuous applause that
always seems to mesomehowto bring out my best qualities。 However；
you are right； I know； and I am wrong。 Hence forth I will be a very
different Toad。 My friends； you shall never have occasion to blush for me
again。 But； O dear； O dear； this is a hard world！'
And； pressing his handkerchief to his face； he left the room； with
faltering footsteps。
‘Badger；' said the Rat； ‘_I_ feel like a brute； I wonder what YOU feel
like？'
‘O； I know； I know；' said the Badger gloomily。 ‘But the thing had to be
done。 This good fellow has got to live here； and hold his own； and be
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respected。 Would you have him a common laughing… stock； mocked and
jeered at by stoats and weasels？'
‘Of course not；' said the Rat。 ‘And； talking of weasels； it's lucky we
came upon that little weasel； just as he was setting out with Toad's
invitations。 I suspected something from what you told me； and had a look
at one or two； they were simply disgraceful。 I confiscated the lot； and the
good Mole is now sitting in the blue boudoir； filling up plain； simple
invitation cards。'
* * * * *
At last the hour for the banquet began to draw near； and Toad； who on
leaving the others had retired to his bedroom； was still sitting there；
melancholy and thoughtful。 His brow resting on his paw； he pondered long
and deeply。 Gradually his countenance cleared； and he began to smile long；
slow smiles。 Then he took to giggling in a shy； self…conscious manner。 At
last he got up； locked the door； drew the curtains across the windows；
collected all the chairs in the room and arranged them in a semicircle； and
took up his position in front of them； swelling visibly。 Then he bowed；
coughed twice； and； letting himself go； with uplifted voice he sang； to the
enraptured audience that his imagination so clearly saw；
TOAD'S LAST LITTLE SONG！
The Toadcamehome！ There was panic in the parlours and bowling
in the halls； There was crying in the cow…sheds and shrieking in the stalls；
When the Toadcamehome！
When the Toadcamehome！ There was smashing in of window and
crashing in of door； There was chivvying of weasels that fainted on the
floor； When the Toadcamehome！
Bang！ go the drums！ The trumpeters are tooting and the soldiers are
saluting； And the cannon they are shooting and the motor…cars are hooting；
As theHerocomes！
ShoutHoo…ray！ And let each one of the crowd try and shout it very
loud； In honour of an animal of whom you're justly proud； For it's Toad's
greatday！
He sang this very loud； with great unction and expression； and when
he had done； he sang it all over again。
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Then he heaved a deep sigh； a long； long； long sigh。
Then he dipped his hairbrush in the water…jug； parted his hair in the
middle； and plastered it down very straight and sleek on each side of his
face； and； unlocking the door； went quietly down the stairs to greet his
guests； who he knew must be assembling in the drawing…room。
All the animals cheered when he entered； and crowded round to
congratulate him and say nice things about his courage； and his cleverness；
and his fighting qualities； but Toad only smiled faintly； and murmured；
‘Not at all！' Or； sometimes； for a change； ‘On the contrary！' Otter； who was
standing on the hearthrug； describing to an admiring circle of friends
exactly how he would have managed things had he been there； came
forward with a shout； threw his arm round Toad's neck； and tried to take
him round the room in triumphal progress； but Toad； in a mild way； was
rather snubby to him； remarking gently； as he disengaged himself；
‘Badger's was the mastermind； the Mole and the Water Rat bore the brunt
of the fighting； I merely served in the ranks and did little or nothing。' The
animals were evidently puzzled and taken aback by this unexpected
attitude of his； and Toad felt； as he moved from one guest to the other；
making his modest responses； that he was an object of absorbing interest
to every one。
The Badger had ordered everything of the best； and the banquet was a
great success。 There was much talking and laughter and chaff among the
animals； but through it all Toad； who of course was in the chair； looked
down his nose and murmured pleasant nothings to the animals on either
side of him。 At intervals he stole a glance at the Badger and the Rat； and
always when he looked they were staring at each other with their mouths
open； and this gave him the greatest satisfaction。 Some of the younger and
livelier animals； as the evening wore on； got whispering to each other that
things were not so amusing as they used to be in the good old days； and
there were some knockings on the table and cries of ‘Toad！ Speech！
Speech from Toad！ Song！ Mr。 Toad's song！' But Toad only shook his head
gently； raised one paw in mild protest； and； by pressing delicacies on his
guests； by topical small…talk； and by earnest inquiries after members of
their families not yet old enough to appear at social functions； managed to
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convey to them that this dinner was being run on strictly conventional
lines。
He was indeed an altered Toad！
* * * * *
After this climax； the four animals continued to lead their lives； so
rudely brok