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           "

           Theguardwavedhiswelcomeflag,theengine-driverwhistledincheerfulresponse,andthetrainmovedoutofthestation.Asthespeedincreased,andtheToadcouldseeoneithersideofhimrealfields,andtrees,andhedges,andcows,andhorses,allflyingpasthim,andashethoughthoweveryminutewasbringinghimnearertoToadHall,andsympatheticfriends,andmoneytochinkinhispocket,andasoftbedtosleepin,andgoodthingstoeat,andpraiseandadmirationattherecitalofhisadventuresandhissurpassingcleverness,hebegantoskipupanddownandshoutandsingsnatchesofsong,tothegreatastonishmentoftheengine-driver,whohadcomeacrosswasherwomenbefore,atlongintervals,butneveroneatalllikethis.

           Theyhadcoveredmanyandmanyamile,andToadwasalreadyconsideringwhathewouldhaveforsupperassoonashegothome,whenhenoticedthattheengine-driver,withapuzzledexpressiononhisface,wasleaningoverthesideoftheengineandlisteninghard.Thenhesawhimclimbontothecoalsandgazeoutoverthetopofthetrain;thenhereturnedandsaidtoToad:"It’sverystrange;we’rethelasttrainrunninginthisdirectionto-night,yetIcouldbeswornthatIheardanotherfollowingus!"

           Toadceasedhisfrivolousanticsatonce.Hebecamegraveanddepressed,andadullpaininthelowerpartofhisspine,communicatingitselftohislegs,madehimwanttositdownandtrydesperatelynottothinkofallthepossibilities.