The Open Road (16)

The Open Road (16)

" Police-station ! Comlaint ! " murmured Toad dreamly.
" Me COMPLAIN of that beautiful, that heavenly vision.
MEND THE CART !
I've done with carts for ever. I never want to see that cart, or to hear of it, again.
O, Ratty ! You can't think how obliged I am to you for consenting to come on this trip ! I wouldn't have gone without you, and then I maight never have seen that swan, that sunbeam, that thunderbolt !
I owe it all to you, my best of friends ! "

The Rat turned from him in despair.
" You see what it is ? " he said to the Mole.
" He's quite hopeless. I give it up. When we get to the town we'll go to the railway station, and with luck we may pick up a train there that'll get us back to riverbank tonight."

On reaching the town they went straight to the  railway-station and deposited Toad in the second-class waiting room, giving a porter twopence to keep a strict eye on him.

Then they left the horse at an inn stable, and gave what directions they could about the cart and its contents.  

Eventually, a slow train having landed them at a station not very far from Toad Hall.

They escorted the spell-bound, sleep-walking Toad to his door, put him inside it, instructed his housekeeper to feed him, undress him and put him to bed.

Then they got out their boat from the boat-house, sculled down the river to home.    

At a very late hour, they sat down to supper in their own cozy riverside parlour, to the Rat's great joy and contentment.

(16/17)