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The River Bank
Icameupthisbackwatertotryandgetamoment’speace,andthenstumbleuponyoufellows!—Atleast—Ibegpardon—Idon’texactlymeanthat,youknow."
Therewasarustlebehindthem,proceedingfromahedgewhereinlastyear’sleavesstillclungthick,andastripyhead,withhighshouldersbehindit,peeredforthonthem.
"Comeon,oldBadger!"shoutedtheRat.
TheBadgertrottedforwardapaceortwo,thengrunted,"H’m!Company,"andturnedhisbackanddisappearedfromview.
"That’sjustthesortoffellowheis!"observedthedisappointedRat."SimplyhatesSociety!Nowweshan’tseeanymoreofhimto-day.Well,tellus,who’soutontheriver?"
"Toad’sout,forone,"repliedtheOtter."Inhisbrand-newwager-boat;newtogs,neweverything!"
Thetwoanimalslookedateachotherandlaughed.
"Once,itwasnothingbutsailing,"saidtheRat."Thenhetiredofthatandtooktopunting.Nothingwouldpleasehimbuttopuntalldayandeveryday,andanicemesshemadeofit.Lastyearitwashouse-boating,andweallhadtogoandstaywithhiminhishouse-boat,andpretendwelikedit.Hewasgoingtospendtherestofhislifeinahouse-boat.It’sallthesame,whateverhetakesup;hegetstiredofit,andstartsonsomethingfresh.
