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anything about that motor…car and who it belongs to； and lodge a
complaint against it。 And then you'll have to go to a blacksmith's or a
wheelwright's and arrange for the cart to be fetched and mended and put to
rights。 It'll take time； but it's not quite a hopeless smash。 Meanwhile； the
Mole and I will go to an inn and find comfortable rooms where we can
stay till the cart's ready； and till your nerves have recovered their shock。'
‘Police…station！ Complaint！'murmured Toad dreamily。 ‘Me
COMPLAIN of that beautiful； that heavenly vision that has been
vouchsafed me！ MEND THE CART！ I've done with carts for ever。 I never
want to see the cart； or to hear of it； again。 O； Ratty！ You can't think how
obliged I am to you for consenting to come on this trip！ I wouldn't have
gone without you； and then I might never have seen thatthat swan； that
sunbeam； that thunderbolt！ I might never have heard that entrancing sound；
or smelt that bewitching smell！ I owe it all to you； my best of friends！'
The Rat turned from him in despair。 ‘You see what it is？' he said to the
Mole； addressing him across Toad's head： ‘He's quite hopeless。 I give it
upwhen we get to the town we'll go to the railway station； and with luck
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we may pick up a train there that'll get us back to riverbank to…night。 And
if ever you catch me going a…pleasuring with this provoking animal again！'
He snorted； and during the rest of that weary trudge addressed his
remarks exclusively to Mole。
On reaching the town they went straight to the station and deposited
Toad in the second…class waiting…room； giving a porter twopence to keep a
strict eye on him。 They then left the horse at an inn stable； and gave what
directions they could about the cart and its contents。 Eventually； a slow
train having landed them at a station not very far from Toad Hall； they
escorted the spell…bound； sleep…walking Toad to his door； put him inside it；
and instructed his housekeeper to feed him； undress him； and put him to
bed。 Then they got out their boat from the boat…house； sculled down the
river home； and at a very late hour sat down to supper in their own cosy
riverside parlour； to the Rat's great joy and contentment。
The following evening the Mole； who had risen late and taken things
very easy all day； was sitting on the bank fishing； when the Rat； who had
been looking up his friends and gossiping； came strolling along to find
him。 ‘Heard the news？' he said。 ‘There's nothing else being talked about；
all along the river bank。 Toad went up to Town by an early train this
morning。 And he has ordered a large and very expensive motor…car。'
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CHAPTER III
THE WILD WOOD
The Mole had long wanted to make the I acquaintance of the Badger。
He seemed； by all accounts； to be such an important personage and；
though rarely visible； to make his unseen influence felt by everybody
about the place。 But whenever the Mole mentioned his wish to the Water
Rat he always found himself put off。 ‘It's all right；' the Rat would say。
‘Badger'll turn up some day or otherhe's always turning upand then I'll
introduce you。 The best of fellows！ But you must not only take him AS
you find him； but WHEN you find him。'
‘Couldn't you ask him here dinner or something？' said the Mole。
‘He wouldn't come；' replied the Rat simply。 ‘Badger hates Society； and
invitations； and dinner； and all that sort of thing。'
‘Well； then； supposing we go and call on HIM？' suggested the Mole。
‘O； I'm sure he wouldn't like that at ALL；' said the Rat； quite alarmed。
‘He's so very shy； he'd be sure to be offended。 I've never even ventured to
call on him at his own home myself； though I know him so well。 Besides；
we can't。 It's quite out of the question； because he lives in the very middle
of the Wild Wood。'
‘Well； supposing he does；' said the Mole。 ‘You told me the Wild Wood
was all right； you know。'
‘O； I know； I know； so it is；' replied the Rat evasively。 ‘But I think we
won't go there just now。 Not JUST yet。 It's a long way； and he wouldn't be
at home at this time of year anyhow； and he'll be coming along some day；
if you'll wait quietly。'
The Mole had to be content with this。 But the Badger never came
along； and every day brought its amusements； and it was not till summer
was long over； and cold and frost and miry ways kept them much indoors；
and the swollen river raced past outside their windows with a speed that
mocked at boating of any sort or kind； that he found his thoughts dwelling
again with much persistence on the solitary grey Badger； who lived his
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own life by himself； in his hole in the middle of the Wild Wood。
In the winter time the Rat slept a great deal； retiring early and rising
late。 During his short day he sometimes scribbled poetry or did other small
domestic jobs about the house； and； of course； there were always animals
dropping in for a chat； and consequently there was a good deal of story…
telling and comparing notes on the past summer and all its doings。
Such a rich chapter it had been； when one came to look back on it all！
With illustrations so numerous and so very highly coloured！ The pageant
of the river bank had marched steadily along； unfolding itself in scene…
pictures that succeeded each other in stately procession。 Purple loosestrife
arrived early； shaking luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of the mirror
whence its own face laughed back at it。 Willow…herb； tender and wistful；
like a pink sunset cloud； was not slow to follow。 Comfrey； the purple
hand…in…hand with the white； crept forth to take its place in the line； and at
last one morning the diffident and delaying dog…rose stepped delicately on
the stage； and one knew； as if string…music had announced it in stately
chords that strayed into a gavotte； that June at last was here。 One member
of the company was still awaited； the shepherd…boy for the nymphs to woo；
the knight for whom the ladies waited at the window； the prince that was
to kiss the sleeping summer back to life and love。 But when meadow…
sweet； debonair and odorous in amber jerkin； moved graciously to his
place in the group； then the play was ready to begin。
And what a play it had been！ Drowsy animals； snug in their holes
while wind and rain were battering at their doors； recalled still keen
mornings； an hour before sunrise； when the white mist； as yet undispersed；
clung closely along the surface of the water； then the shock of the early
plunge； the scamper along the bank； and the radiant transformation of
earth； air； and water； when suddenly the sun was with them again； and grey
was gold and colour was born and sprang out of the earth once more。 They
recalled the languorous siesta of hot mid…day； deep in green undergrowth；
the sun striking through in tiny golden shafts and spots； the boating and
bathing of the afternoon； the rambles along dusty lanes and through yellow
cornfields； and the long； cool evening at last； when so many threads were
gathered up； so many friendships rounded； and so many adventures
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planned for the morrow。 There was plenty to talk about on those short
winter days when the animals found themselves round the fire； still； the
Mole had a good deal of spare time on his hands； and so one afternoon；
when the Rat in his arm…chair before the blaze was alternately dozing and
trying over rhymes that wouldn't fit； he formed the resolution to go out by
himself and explore the Wild Wood； and perhaps strike up an acquaintance
with Mr。 Badger。
It was a cold still afternoon with a hard steely sky overhead； when he
slipped out of the warm parlour into the open air。 The country lay bare and
entirely leafl