le round his wood and down his earths
and burrows. "Toad's still in bed," he told the Rat, outside the door.
"Can't get much out of him, except, 'O leave him alone, he wants
nothing, perhaps he'll be better presently, it may pass off in time,
don't be unduly anxious,' and so on. Now, you look out, Rat! When
Toad's quiet and submissive, and playing at being the hero of a
Sunday-school prize, then he's at his artfullest. There's sure to be
something up. I know him. Well, now, I must be off."

"How are you to-day, old chap?" inquired the Rat cheerfully, as he
approached Toad's bedside.

He had to wait some minutes for an answer. At last a feeble voice
replied, "Thank you so much, dear Ratty! So good of you to inquire!
But first tell me how you are yourself, and the excellent Mole?"

"O, _we're_ all right," replied the Rat. "Mole," he added
incautiously, "is going out for a run round with Badger. They'll be
out till luncheon time, so you and I will spend a pleasant morning
together, and I'll do my best to amuse you. Now jump up, there's a
good fellow, and don't lie moping there on a fine morning like this!"

"Dear, kind Rat," murmured Toad, "how little you realise my condition,
and how very far I am from 'jumping up' now--if ever! But do not
trouble about me. I hate being a burden to my friends, and I do not
expect to be one much longer. Indeed, I almost hope not."

"Well, I hope not, too," said the Rat heartily. "You've been a fine
bother to us all this time, and I'm glad to hear it's going to stop.
And in weather like this, and the boating season just beginning! It's
too bad of you, Toad! It isn't the trouble we mind, but you're making
us miss such an awful lot."

"I'm afraid it _is_ the trouble you mind, though," replied the Toad
languidly. "I can quite understand it. It's natural enough. You're
tired of bothering about me. I mustn't ask you to do anything further.
I'm a nuisance, I know."

"You are, indeed," said the Rat. "But I tell you, I'd take any trouble
on earth for you, if only you'd be a sensible animal."

"If I thought that, Ratty," murmured Toad, more feebly than ever,
"then I would beg you--for the last time, probably--to step round to
the village as quickly as possible--even now it may be too late--and
fetch the doctor. But don't you bother. It's only a trouble, and
perhaps we may as well let things take their course."

"Why, what do you want a doctor for?" inquired the Rat, coming closer
and exam