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The Further Adventures of Toad
Ifthat’snotgoodenoughforyou,sayso,andI’llbegettingon.Iknowamannearherewho’swantedthishorseofmineforyears."
Thegipsygrumbledfrightfully,anddeclaredifhedidafewmoredealsofthatsorthe’dberuined.Butintheendheluggedadirtycanvasbagoutofthedepthsofhistrouserpocket,andcountedoutsixshillingsandsixpenceintoToad’spaw.Thenhedisappearedintothecaravanforaninstant,andreturnedwithalargeironplateandaknife,fork,andspoon.Hetiltedupthepot,andagloriousstreamofhot,richstewgurgledintotheplate.Itwas,indeed,themostbeautifulstewintheworld,beingmadeofpartridges,andpheasants,andchickens,andhares,andrabbits,andpeahens,andguinea-fowls,andoneortwootherthings.Toadtooktheplateonhislap,almostcrying,andstuffed,andstuffed,andstuffed,andkeptaskingformore,andthegipsynevergrudgedithim.Hethoughtthathehadnevereatensogoodabreakfastinallhislife.
WhenToadhadtakenasmuchstewonboardashethoughthecouldpossiblyhold,hegotupandsaidgood-byetothegipsy,andtookanaffectionatefarewellofthehorse;andthegipsy,whoknewtheriversidewell,gavehimdirectionswhichwaytogo,andhesetforthonhistravelsagaininthebestpossiblespirits.Hewas,indeed,averydifferentToadfromtheanimalofanhourago.
