The others stood fast for a bit, but when the weasels came rushing out upon them they thought they were betrayed; and the stoats grappled with the weasels, and the weasels fought to get away, and they wrestled and wriggled and punched each other, and rolled over and over, till most of 'em rolled into the river! Add to Bookshelf. Certainly not! The noise, as they emerged from the passage, was simply deafening. Feb 25, 2016 - Read XII. they heard, and the stamping of little feet on the floor, and the clinking of glasses as little fists pounded on the table. and was swaggering off in the direction of the garden, where he wanted to think out an idea or two for his coming speeches, when the Rat caught him by the arm. I have read it and reread it, and have come to accept the characters as old friends. And I'LL bear a hand, too; and take my share of the burden. At last he got up, locked the door, drew the curtains across the windows, collected all the chairs in the room and arranged them in a semicircle, and took up his position in front of them, swelling visibly.     When the Toad—came—home! And that's the gallant Water Rat, a terrible fighter, walking along o' him! And look here, Toady! he pleaded piteously. There was much talking and laughter and chaff among the animals, but through it all Toad, who of course was in the chair, looked down his nose and murmured pleasant nothings to the animals on either side of him. The Badger thought they were being attacked from behind, and, as there was no room to use a stick or a cutlass, drew a pistol, and was on the point of putting a bullet into Toad. Then he took to giggling in a shy, self-conscious manner. The two animals conducted him between them into the small smoking-room that opened out of the entrance-hall, shut the door, and put him into a chair. ', The Badger looked at him very suspiciously, but Toad's frank, open countenance made it difficult to suggest any unworthy motive in this change of attitude. And then come along and have some of this cold tongue. See that they sweep UNDER the beds, and put clean sheets and pillow-cases on, and turn down one corner of the bed-clothes, just as you know it ought to be done; and have a can of hot water, and clean towels, and fresh cakes of soap, put in each room. Mole first, 'cos I'm very pleased with him; Rat next; Toad last. And look here, Toady! January 19, 2021. It's first rate. They were but four in all, but to the panic-stricken weasels the hall seemed full of monstrous animals, grey, black, brown and yellow, whooping and flourishing enormous cudgels; and they broke and fled with squeals of terror and dismay, this way and that, through the windows, up the chimney, anywhere to get out of reach of those terrible sticks. The animals were evidently puzzled and taken aback by this unexpected attitude of his; and Toad felt, as he moved from one guest to the other, making his modest responses, that he was an object of absorbing interest to every one. 'But the thing had to be done. 3687300. . Hence forth I will be a very different Toad. Otter, who was standing on the hearthrug, describing to an admiring circle of friends exactly how he would have managed things had he been there, came forward with a shout, threw his arm round Toad's neck, and tried to take him round the room in triumphal progress; but Toad, in a mild way, was rather snubby to him, remarking gently, as he disengaged himself, 'Badger's was the mastermind; the Mole and the Water Rat bore the brunt of the fighting; I merely served in the ranks and did little or nothing.' The Badger, who was in an arm-chair and deep in the morning paper, merely looked up and nodded when Toad entered the room. Chapter 1: The Riverbank Chapter 2: The Open Road Chapter 3: The Wild Wood Chapter 4: Mr. Badger Chapter 5: Dulce Domum Chapter 6: Mr. . Instead, he was so uppish and inflated that the Mole began to suspect something; while the Rat and the Badger exchanged significant glances. I've an idea that, thanks to you, we shan't have much trouble from them to-night!'. Now, sit down at that table—there's stacks of letter-paper on it, with "Toad Hall" at the top in blue and gold—and write invitations to all our friends, and if you stick to it we shall get them out before luncheon. And yonder comes the famous Mr. Mole, of whom you so often have heard your father tell!' Speech! The Mole vanished promptly through a window; and the Badger bade the other two set a table on its legs again, pick up knives and forks and plates and glasses from the debris on the floor, and see if they could find materials for a supper. 'I want some grub, I do,' he said, in that rather common way he had of speaking. However, you are right, I know, and I am wrong. BY TOAD. Don't you chatter so much as usual, or you'll be sent back, as sure as fate!'. THE RETURN OF ULYSSES of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. 'Only just let me get at him!' So that's all right! The others stood fast for a bit, but when the weasels came rushing out upon them they thought they were betrayed; and the stoats grappled with the weasels, and the weasels fought to get away, and they wrestled and wriggled and punched each other, and rolled over and over, till most of 'em rolled into the river! . It amuses you and it doesn't hurt me. The mighty Badger, his whiskers bristling, his great cudgel whistling through the air; Mole, black and grim, brandishing his stick and shouting his awful war-cry, 'A Mole! 'You know you MUST turn over a new leaf sooner or later, and now seems a splendid time to begin; a sort of turning-point in your career.     As the—Hero—comes! I want you to take those fellows on the floor there upstairs with you, and have some bedrooms cleaned out and tidied up and made really comfortable. ', The goodnatured Mole picked up a stick, formed his prisoners up in a line on the floor, gave them the order 'Quick march!' I suspected something from what you told me, and had a look at one or two; they were simply disgraceful. We all know Toad! 'Stir your stumps, Toad, and look lively! What is my pleasure or convenience compared with that of others! Please don't think that saying all this doesn't hurt me more than it hurts you. Up and down, the whole length of the hall, strode the four Friends, whacking with their sticks at every head that showed itself; and in five minutes the room was cleared. Toad felt rather hurt that the Badger didn't say pleasant things to him, as he had to the Mole, and tell him what a fine fellow he was, and how splendidly he had fought; for he was rather particularly pleased with himself and the way he had gone for the Chief Weasel and sent him flying across the table with one blow of his stick. 'It's for your own good, Toady,' went on the Rat. Well might tables and chairs be upset, and glass and china be sent crashing on the floor, in the panic of that terrible moment when the four Heroes strode wrathfully into the room! 0140366857. catalogue key. Much as Odysseus returns home from battle to find his home occupied by outsiders, Toad returns to find his home overtaken by stoats and weasels. The Badger had ordered everything of the best, and the banquet was a great success. 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