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nuisance； I know。'
‘You are； indeed；' said the Rat。 ‘But I tell you； I'd take any trouble on
earth for you； if only you'd be a sensible animal。'
‘If I thought that； Ratty；' murmured Toad； more feebly than ever； ‘then
I would beg youfor the last time； probablyto step round to the village as
quickly as possibleeven now it may be too lateand fetch the doctor。 But
don't you bother。 It's only a trouble； and perhaps we may as well let things
take their course。'
‘Why； what do you want a doctor for？' inquired the Rat； coming closer
and examining him。 He certainly lay very still and flat； and his voice was
weaker and his manner much changed。
‘Surely you have noticed of late' murmured Toad。 ‘But； no why
should you？ Noticing things is only a trouble。 To…morrow； indeed； you
may be saying to yourself； 〃O； if only I had noticed sooner！ If only I had
done something！〃 But no； it's a trouble。 Never mindforget that I asked。'
‘Look here； old man；' said the Rat； beginning to get rather alarmed； ‘of
course I'll fetch a doctor to you； if you really think you want him。 But you
can hardly be bad enough for that yet。 Let's talk about something else。'
‘I fear； dear friend；' said Toad； with a sad smile； ‘that 〃talk〃 can do
little in a case like thisor doctors either； for that matter； still； one must
grasp at the slightest straw。 And； by the waywhile you are about itI
HATE to give you additional trouble； but I happen to remember that you
will pass the door would you mind at the same time asking the lawyer to
step up？ It would be a convenience to me； and there are momentsperhaps
I should say there is A momentwhen one must face disagreeable tasks； at
whatever cost to exhausted nature！'
‘A lawyer！ O； he must be really bad！' the affrighted Rat said to himself；
as he hurried from the room； not forgetting； however； to lock the door
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
carefully behind him。
Outside； he stopped to consider。 The other two were far away； and he
had no one to consult。
‘It's best to be on the safe side；' he said； on reflection。 ‘I've known
Toad fancy himself frightfully bad before； without the slightest reason； but
I've never heard him ask for a lawyer！ If there's nothing really the matter；
the doctor will tell him he's an old ass； and cheer him up； and that will be
something gained。 I'd better humour him and go； it won't take very long。'
So he ran off to the village on his errand of mercy。
The Toad； who had hopped lightly out of bed as soon as he heard the
key turned in the lock； watched him eagerly from the window till he
disappeared down the carriage…drive。 Then； laughing heartily； he dressed
as quickly as possible in the smartest suit he could lay hands on at the
moment； filled his pockets with cash which he took from a small drawer in
the dressing…table； and next； knotting the sheets from his bed together and
tying one end of the improvised rope round the central mullion of the
handsome Tudor window which formed such a feature of his bedroom； he
scrambled out； slid lightly to the ground； and； taking the opposite direction
to the Rat； marched off lightheartedly； whistling a merry tune。
It was a gloomy luncheon for Rat when the Badger and the Mole at
length returned； and he had to face them at table with his pitiful and
unconvincing story。 The Badger's caustic； not to say brutal； remarks may
be imagined； and therefore passed over； but it was painful to the Rat that
even the Mole； though he took his friend's side as far as possible； could
not help saying； ‘You've been a bit of a duffer this time； Ratty！ Toad； too；
of all animals！'
‘He did it awfully well；' said the crestfallen Rat。
‘He did YOU awfully well！' rejoined the Badger hotly。 ‘However；
talking won't mend matters。 He's got clear away for the time； that's certain；
and the worst of it is； he'll be so conceited with what he'll think is his
cleverness that he may commit any folly。 One comfort is； we're free now；
and needn't waste any more of our precious time doing sentry…go。 But we'd
better continue to sleep at Toad Hall for a while longer。 Toad may be
brought back at any momenton a stretcher； or between two policemen。'
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
So spoke the Badger； not knowing what the future held in store； or
how much water； and of how turbid a character； was to run under bridges
before Toad should sit at ease again in his ancestral Hall。
Meanwhile； Toad； gay and irresponsible； was walking briskly along
the high road； some miles from home。 At first he had taken by… paths； and
crossed many fields； and changed his course several times； in case of
pursuit； but now； feeling by this time safe from recapture； and the sun
smiling brightly on him； and all Nature joining in a chorus of approval to
the song of self…praise that his own heart was singing to him； he almost
danced along the road in his satisfaction and conceit。
‘Smart piece of work that！' he remarked to himself chuckling。 ‘Brain
against brute forceand brain came out on the topas it's bound to do。
Poor old Ratty！ My！ won't he catch it when the Badger gets back！ A
worthy fellow； Ratty； with many good qualities； but very little intelligence
and absolutely no education。 I must take him in hand some day； and see if
I can make something of him。'
Filled full of conceited thoughts such as these he strode along； his head
in the air； till he reached a little town； where the sign of ‘The Red Lion；'
swinging across the road halfway down the main street； reminded him that
he had not breakfasted that day； and that he was exceedingly hungry after
his long walk。 He marched into the Inn； ordered the best luncheon that
could be provided at so short a notice； and sat down to eat it in the coffee…
room。
He was about half…way through his meal when an only too familiar
sound； approaching down the street； made him start and fall a… trembling
all over。 The poop…poop！ drew nearer and nearer； the car could be heard to
turn into the inn…yard and come to a stop； and Toad had to hold on to the
leg of the table to conceal his over…mastering emotion。 Presently the party
entered the coffee…room； hungry； talkative； and gay； voluble on their
exp