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！
it is。 It makes me downright sorry to see you fellows； who ought to know
better； spending all your energies in that aimless manner。 No； I've
discovered the real thing； the only genuine occupation for a life time。 I
16
… Page 17…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
propose to devote the remainder of mine to it； and can only regret the
wasted years that lie behind me； squandered in trivialities。 Come with me；
dear Ratty； and your amiable friend also； if he will be so very good； just as
far as the stable…yard； and you shall see what you shall see！'
He led the way to the stable…yard accordingly； the Rat following with a
most mistrustful expression； and there； drawn out of the coach house into
the open； they saw a gipsy caravan； shining with newness； painted a
canary…yellow picked out with green； and red wheels。
‘There you are！' cried the Toad； straddling and expanding himself。
‘There's real life for you； embodied in that little cart。 The open road； the
dusty highway； the heath； the common； the hedgerows； the rolling downs！
Camps； villages； towns； cities！ Here to…day； up and off to somewhere else
to…morrow！ Travel； change； interest； excitement！ The whole world before
you； and a horizon that's always changing！ And mind！ this is the very
finest cart of its sort that was ever built； without any exception。 Come
inside and look at the arrangements。 Planned 'em all myself； I did！'
The Mole was tremendously interested and excited； and followed him
eagerly up the steps and into the interior of the caravan。 The Rat only
snorted and thrust his hands deep into his pockets； remaining where he
was。
It was indeed very compact and comfortable。 Little sleeping bunksa
little table that folded up against the walla cooking… stove； lockers；
bookshelves； a bird…cage with a bird in it； and pots； pans； jugs and kettles
of every size and variety。
‘All complete！' said the Toad triumphantly； pulling open a locker。 ‘You
seebiscuits； potted lobster； sardineseverything you can possibly want。
Soda…water herebaccy thereletter… paper； bacon； jam； cards and
dominoesyou'll find；' he continued； as they descended the steps again；
‘you'll find that nothing what ever has been forgotten； when we make our
start this afternoon。'
‘I beg your pardon；' said the Rat slowly； as he chewed a straw； ‘but did
I overhear you say something about 〃WE；〃 and 〃START；〃 and 〃THIS
AFTERNOON？〃'
‘Now； you dear good old Ratty；' said Toad； imploringly； ‘don't begin
17
… Page 18…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
talking in that stiff and sniffy sort of way； because you know you've GOT
to come。 I can't possibly manage without you； so please consider it settled；
and don't argueit's the one thing I can't stand。 You surely don't mean to
stick to your dull fusty old river all your life； and just live in a hole in a
bank； and BOAT？ I want to show you the world！ I'm going to make an
ANIMAL of you； my boy！'
‘I don't care；' said the Rat； doggedly。 ‘I'm not coming； and that's flat。
And I AM going to stick to my old river； AND live in a hole； AND boat； as
I've always done。 And what's more； Mole's going to stick me and do as I
do； aren't you； Mole？'
‘Of course I am；' said the Mole； loyally。 ‘I'll always stick to you； Rat；
and what you say is to behas got to be。 All the same； it sounds as if it
might have beenwell； rather fun； you know！' he added； wistfully。 Poor
Mole！ The Life Adventurous was so new a thing to him； and so thrilling；
and this fresh aspect of it was so tempting； and he had fallen in love at first
sight with the canary…coloured cart and all its little fitments。
The Rat saw what was passing in his mind； and wavered。 He hated
disappointing people； and he was fond of the Mole； and would do almost
anything to oblige him。 Toad was watching both of them closely。
‘Come along in； and have some lunch；' he said； diplomatically； ‘and
we'll talk it over。 We needn't decide anything in a hurry。 Of course； _I_
don't really care。 I only want to give pleasure to you fellows。 〃Live for
others！〃 That's my motto in life。'
During luncheonwhich was excellent； of course； as everything at
Toad Hall always wasthe Toad simply let himself go。 Disregarding the
Rat； he proceeded to play upon the inexperienced Mole as on a harp。
Naturally a voluble animal； and always mastered by his imagination； he
painted the prospects of the trip and the joys of the open life and the
roadside in such glowing colours that the Mole could hardly sit in his chair
for excitement。 Somehow； it soon seemed taken for granted by all three of
them that the trip was a settled thing； and the Rat； though still unconvinced
in his mind； allowed his good…nature to over…ride his personal objections。
He could not bear to disappoint his two friends； who were already deep in
schemes and anticipations； planning out each day's separate occupation for
18
… Page 19…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
several weeks ahead。
When they were quite ready； the now triumphant Toad led his
companions to the paddock and set them to capture the old grey horse；
who； without having been consulted； and to his own extreme annoyance；
had been told off by Toad for the dustiest job in this dusty expedition。 He
frankly preferred the paddock； and took a deal of catching。 Meantime Toad
packed the lockers still tighter with necessaries； and hung nosebags； nets
of onions； bundles of hay； and baskets from the bottom of the cart。 At last
the horse was caught and harnessed； and they set off； all talking at once；
each animal either trudging by the side of the cart or sitting on the shaft； as
the humour took him。 It was a golden afternoon。 The smell of the dust they
kicked up was rich and satisfying； out of thick orchards on either side the
road； birds called and whistled to them cheerily； good…natured wayfarers；
passing them； gave them ‘Good…day；' or stopped to say nice things about
their beautiful cart； and rabbits； sitting at their front doors in the
hedgerows； held up their fore…paws； and said； ‘O my！ O my！ O my！'
Late in the evening； tired and happy and miles from home； they drew
up on a remote common far from habitations； turned the horse loose to
graze； and ate their simple supper sitting on the grass by the side of the
cart。 Toad talked big about all he was going to do in the days to come；
while stars grew fuller and larger all around them； and a yellow moon；
appearing suddenly and silently from nowhere in particular； came to keep
them company and listen to their talk。 At last they turned in to their little
bunks in the cart； and Toad； kicking out his legs； sleepily said； ‘Well； good
night； you fellows！ This is the real life for a gentleman！ Talk about your
old river！'
‘I DON'T talk about my river；' replied the patient Rat。 ‘You KNOW I
don't； Toad。 But I THINK about it；' he added pathetically； in a lower tone：
‘I think about itall the time！'
The Mole reached out from under his blanket； felt for the Rat's paw in
the darkness； and gave it a squeeze。 ‘I'll do whatever you like； Ratty；' he
whispered。 ‘Shall we run away to…morrow morning； quite earlyVERY
earlyand go back to our dear old hole on the river？'
‘No； no； we'll see it out；' whispered back the Rat。 ‘Thanks awfully； but
19
… Page 20…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
I ought to stick by Toad till this trip is ended。 It wouldn't be safe for him to
be left to himself。 It won't take very long。 His fads never do。 Good night！'
The end was indeed nearer than even the Rat suspected。
After so much open air and excitement the Toad slept very soundly；
and no amount of shaking could rouse him out of bed next morning。 So
the Mole and Rat turned to； quietly and manfully； and while the Rat saw to
the horse； and lit a fire； and cleaned last night's cups and platters； and got
t