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The Further Adventures of Toad
Heshookhimselfandcombedthedryleavesoutofhishairwithhisfingers;and,histoiletcomplete,marchedforthintothecomfortablemorningsun,coldbutconfident,hungrybuthopeful,allnervousterrorsofyesterdaydispelledbyrestandsleepandfrankandhearteningsunshine.
Hehadtheworldalltohimself,thatearlysummermorning.Thedewywoodland,ashethreadedit,wassolitaryandstill:thegreenfieldsthatsucceededthetreeswerehisowntodoashelikedwith;theroaditself,whenhereachedit,inthatlonelinessthatwaseverywhere,seemed,likeastraydog,tobelookinganxiouslyforcompany.Toad,however,waslookingforsomethingthatcouldtalk,andtellhimclearlywhichwayheoughttogo.Itisallverywell,whenyouhavealightheart,andaclearconscience,andmoneyinyourpocket,andnobodyscouringthecountryforyoutodragyouofftoprisonagain,tofollowwheretheroadbeckonsandpoints,notcaringwhither.ThepracticalToadcaredverymuchindeed,andhecouldhavekickedtheroadforitshelplesssilencewheneveryminutewasofimportancetohim.
Thereservedrusticroadwaspresentlyjoinedbyashylittlebrotherintheshapeofacanal,whichtookitshandandambledalongbyitssideinperfectconfidence,butwiththesametongue-tied,uncommunicativeattitudetowardsstrangers."Botherthem!"saidToadtohimself."But,anyhow,onething’sclear.Theymustbothbecomingfromsomewhere,andgoingtosomewhere.
