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Toad’s Adventures
Whenshesaidgood-night,havingfilledhiswater-jugandshakenuphisstrawforhim,Toadwasverymuchthesamesanguine,self-satisfiedanimalthathehadbeenofold.Hesangalittlesongortwo,ofthesortheusedtosingathisdinner-parties,curledhimselfupinthestraw,andhadanexcellentnight’srestandthepleasantestofdreams.
Theyhadmanyinterestingtalkstogether,afterthat,asthedrearydayswenton;andthegaoler’sdaughtergrewverysorryforToad,andthoughtitagreatshamethatapoorlittleanimalshouldbelockedupinprisonforwhatseemedtoheraverytrivialoffence.Toad,ofcourse,inhisvanity,thoughtthatherinterestinhimproceededfromagrowingtenderness;andhecouldnothelphalf-regrettingthatthesocialgulfbetweenthemwassoverywide,forshewasacomelylass,andevidentlyadmiredhimverymuch.
Onemorningthegirlwasverythoughtful,andansweredatrandom,anddidnotseemtoToadtobepayingproperattentiontohiswittysayingsandsparklingcomments.
"Toad,"shesaidpresently,"justlisten,please.Ihaveanauntwhoisawasherwoman."
"There,there,"saidToad,graciouslyandaffably,"nevermind;thinknomoreaboutit.Ihaveseveralauntswhooughttobewasherwomen."
"Dobequietaminute,Toad,"saidthegirl."Youtalktoomuch,that’syourchieffault,andI’mtryingtothink,andyouhurtmyhead.