The Open Road (1)

The Open Road (1)

One bright morning, the Rat was sitting on the river bank in the sun, singing a little song of Ducks.



The very early morning, he had been swimming in the river, in company with his friends the ducks. 

So he had just made up the song about them, and he would not pay proper attention to Mole or anything else.

" Ratty, " said the Mole suddenly, " If you please, I want to ask you a favour.
What I wanted to ask you was, won't you take me to call on Mr.Toad ?  I've heard so much about him, and I do so want to make his acquaintance. "



" Why, certainly, " said the good-natured Rat, jumping to his feet and dismissing poetry from his mind.

" Get the boat out, and we'll paddle up there at once. "
" It's never the wrong time to call on Toad. Early or late he's always the same fellow. Always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go ! "

" He must be a very nice animal, " observed the Mole, as he got into the boat and took the sculls, while the Rat settled himself comfortably in the stern.

" He is indeed the best of animals, " replied Rat.
" So simple, so good-natured, and so affectionate. Perhaps he's not very cleverーwe can't all be geniuses; and it may be that he is both boastful and conceited. But he has got some great qualities, has Toady. "

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The Wind in the willow 第2章です。