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anywhere else； for that matter；' he could not help adding。
Here the Rat nudged the Mole。 Unfortunately the Toad saw him do it；
and turned very red。 There was a moment's painful silence。 Then Toad
burst out laughing。 ‘All right； Ratty；' he said。 ‘It's only my way； you know。
And it's not such a very bad house； is it？ You know you rather like it
yourself。 Now； look here。 Let's be sensible。 You are the very animals I
wanted。 You've got to help me。 It's most important！'
‘It's about your rowing； I suppose；' said the Rat； with an innocent air。
‘You're getting on fairly well； though you splash a good bit still。 With a
great deal of patience； and any quantity of coaching； you may'
‘O； pooh！ boating！' interrupted the Toad； in great disgust。 Silly boyish
amusement。 I've given that up LONG ago。 Sheer waste of time； that's what
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
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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
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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
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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 to