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and a restless revolving squirrel。 This kind…hearted girl； pitying the misery
of Toad； said to her father one day； ‘Father！ I can't bear to see that poor
beast so unhappy； and getting so thin！ You let me have the managing of
him。 You know how fond of animals I am。 I'll make him eat from my hand；
and sit up； and do all sorts of things。'
Her father replied that she could do what she liked with him。 He was
tired of Toad； and his sulks and his airs and his meanness。 So that day she
went on her errand of mercy； and knocked at the door of Toad's cell。
‘Now； cheer up； Toad；' she said； coaxingly； on entering； ‘and sit up and
dry your eyes and be a sensible animal。 And do try and eat a bit of dinner。
See； I've brought you some of mine； hot from the oven！'
It was bubble…and…squeak； between two plates； and its fragrance filled
the narrow cell。 The penetrating smell of cabbage reached the nose of
Toad as he lay prostrate in his misery on the floor； and gave him the idea
for a moment that perhaps life was not such a blank and desperate thing as
he had imagined。 But still he wailed； and kicked with his legs； and refused
to be comforted。 So the wise girl retired for the time； but； of course； a
good deal of the smell of hot cabbage remained behind； as it will do； and
Toad； between his sobs； sniffed and reflected； and gradually began to think
new and inspiring thoughts： of chivalry； and poetry； and deeds still to be
done； of broad meadows； and cattle browsing in them； raked by sun and
wind； of kitchen…gardens； and straight herb…borders； and warm snap…
dragon beset by bees； and of the comforting clink of dishes set down on
the table at Toad Hall； and the scrape of chair…legs on the floor as every
one pulled himself close up to his work。 The air of the narrow cell took a
rosy tinge； he began to think of his friends； and how they would surely be
able to do something； of lawyers； and how they would have enjoyed his
case； and what an ass he had been not to get in a few； and lastly； he
thought of his own great cleverness and resource； and all that he was
capable of if he only gave his great mind to it； and the cure was almost
complete。
When the girl returned； some hours later； she carried a tray； with a cup
of fragrant tea steaming on it； and a plate piled up with very hot buttered
toast； cut thick； very brown on both sides； with the butter running through
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
the holes in it in great golden drops； like honey from the honeycomb。 The
smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad； and with no uncertain
voice； talked of warm kitchens； of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings； of
cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings； when one's ramble was over and
slippered feet were propped on the fender； of the purring of contented cats；
and the twitter of sleepy canaries。 Toad sat up on end once more； dried his
eyes； sipped his tea and munched his toast； and soon began talking freely
about himself； and the house he lived in； and his doings there； and how
important he was； and what a lot his friends thought of him。
The gaoler's daughter saw that the topic was doing him as much good
as the tea； as indeed it was； and encouraged him to go on。
‘Tell me about Toad Hall；〃 said she。 ‘It sounds beautiful。'
‘Toad Hall；' said the Toad proudly； ‘is an eligible self… contained
gentleman's residence very unique； dating in part from the fourteenth
century； but replete with every modern convenience。 Up…to…date sanitation。
Five minutes from church； post…office； and golf…links； Suitable for'
‘Bless the animal；' said the girl； laughing； ‘I don't want to TAKE it。
Tell me something REAL about it。 But first wait till I fetch you some more
tea and toast。'
She tripped away； and presently returned with a fresh trayful； and Toad；
pitching into the toast with avidity； his spirits quite restored to their usual
level； told her about the boathouse； and the fish…pond； and the old walled
kitchen…garden； and about the pig…styes； and the stables； and the pigeon…
house； and the hen… house； and about the dairy； and the wash…house； and
the china… cupboards； and the linen…presses （she liked that bit especially）；
and about the banqueting…hall； and the fun they had there when the other
animals were gathered round the table and Toad was at his best； singing
songs； telling stories； carrying on generally。 Then she wanted to know
about his animal…friends； and was very interested in all he had to tell her
about them and how they lived； and what they did to pass their time。 Of
course； she did not say she was fond of animals as PETS； because she had
the sense to see that Toad would be extremely offended。 When she said
good night； having filled his water…jug and shaken up his straw for him；
Toad was very much the same sanguine； self… satisfied animal that he had
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been of old。 He sang a little song or two； of the sort he used to sing at his
dinner…parties； curled himself up in the straw； and had an excellent night's
rest and the pleasantest of dreams。
They had many interesting talks together； after that； as the dreary days
went on； and the gaoler's daughter grew very sorry for Toad； and thought it
a great shame that a poor little animal should be locked up in prison for
what seemed to her a very trivial offence。 Toad； of course； in his vanity；
thought that her interest in him proceeded from a growing tenderness； and
he could not help half…regretting that the social gulf between them was so
very wide； for she was a comely lass； and evidently admired him very
much。
One morning the girl was very thoughtful； and answered at random；
and did not seem to Toad to be paying proper attention to his witty sayings
and sparkling comments。
‘Toad；' she said presently； ‘just listen； please。 I have an aunt who is a
washerwoman。'
‘There； there；' said Toad； graciously and affably； ‘never mind； think no
more about it。 _I_ have several aunts who OUGHT to be washerwomen。'
‘Do be quiet a minute； Toad；' said the girl。 ‘You talk too much； that's
your chief fault； and I'm trying to think； and you hurt my head。 As I said； I
have an aunt who is a washerwoman； she does the washing for all the
prisoners in this castlewe try to keep any