ng!' The Badger was pleased at that, and said, 'There spoke my
brave Toad!' So they finished their supper in great joy and contentment,
and presently retired to rest between clean sheets, safe in Toad's
ancestral home, won back by matchless valour, consummate strategy, and a
proper handling of sticks.

The following morning, Toad, who had overslept himself as usual, came
down to breakfast disgracefully late, and found on the table a certain
quantity of egg-shells, some fragments of cold and leathery toast, a
coffee-pot three-fourths empty, and really very little else; which did
not tend to improve his temper, considering that, after all, it was his
own house. Through the French windows of the breakfast-room he could
see the Mole and the Water Rat sitting in wicker-chairs out on the lawn,
evidently telling each other stories; roaring with laughter and kicking
their short legs up in the air. The Badger, who was in an arm-chair and
deep in the morning paper, merely looked up and nodded when Toad entered
the room. But Toad knew his man, so he sat down and made the best
breakfast he could, merely observing to himself that he would get square
with the others sooner or later. When he had nearly finished, the Badger
looked up and remarked rather shortly: 'I'm sorry, Toad, but I'm afraid
there's a heavy morning's work in front of you. You see, we really ought
to have a Banquet at once, to celebrate this affair. It's expected of
you--in fact, it's the rule.'

'O, all right!' said the Toad, readily. 'Anything to oblige. Though
why on earth you should want to have a Banquet in the morning I cannot
understand. But you know I do not live to please myself, but merely to
find out what my friends want, and then try and arrange it for 'em, you
dear old Badger!'

'Don't pretend to be stupider than you really are,' replied the Badger,
crossly; 'and don't chuckle and splutter in your coffee while you're
talking; it's not manners. What I mean is, the Banquet will be at night,
of course, but the invitations will have to be written and got off at
once, and you've got to write 'em. Now, sit down at that table--there's
stacks of letter-paper on it, with "Toad Hall" at the top in blue and
gold--and write invitations to all our friends, and if you stick to it
we shall get them out before luncheon. And I'LL bear a hand, too; and
take my share of the burden. I'LL order the Banquet.'

'What!' cried Toad, dismayed. 'Me stop indoors and write a lot