te him to dinner a second time, and of the
delicious ants he was sure he would have to eat.

"What very good taste Buster Bear has," thought he, "and how very fortunate
it is that he found out that I also am fond of ants."

He was so busy with these pleasant thoughts and of the good dinner that he
expected to have that he took no notice of what was going on about him. He
didn't see his old friends and neighbors peeping out at him and laughing
because he looked so foolish and silly. He was dressed in his very best,
which was nothing at all to be proud of, for you know Old Mr. Toad has no
fine clothes. And being puffed up so, he was homelier than ever, which is
saying a great deal, for at best Mr. Toad is anything but handsome.

He was beginning to get pretty tired by the time he reached the Green
Forest and came in sight of the rotted old chestnut stump where he was to
meet Buster Bear.

Buster was waiting for him. "How do you do this fine day? You look a little
tired and rather warm, Mr. Toad," said he.

"I am a little warm," replied Mr. Toad in his most polite manner, although
he couldn't help panting for breath as he said it. "I hope you are feeling
as well as you are looking, Mr. Bear."

[Illustration: "I am a little warm," replied Mr. Toad in his most polite
manner.]

Buster Bear laughed a great, grumbly-rumbly laugh. "I always feel fine when
there is a dinner of fat ants ready for me," said he. "It is fine of you to
honor me by coming to dine."

Here Mr. Toad put one hand on his stomach and tried to make a very grand
bow. Peter Rabbit, hiding behind a near-by tree, almost giggled aloud, he
looked so funny.

"I have ventured to invite another to enjoy the dinner with us," continued
Buster Bear. Mr. Toad's face fell. You see he was selfish. He wanted to be
the only one to have the honor of dining with Buster Bear. "He's a little
late," went on Buster, "but I think he will be here soon, and I hope you
will be glad to meet him. Ah, there he comes now!"

Old Mr. Toad looked in the direction in which Buster Bear was looking. He
gave a little gasp and turned quite pale. All his puffiness disappeared. He
didn't look like the same Toad at all. The newcomer was Mr. Blacksnake.
"Oh!" cried Old Mr. Toad, and then, without even asking to be excused, he
turned his back on Buster Bear and started back the way he had come, with
long, frightened hops.

"Ha, ha, ha!" shouted Peter Rabbit, jumping out from behind a tree.