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Toad’s Adventures
Theairofthenarrowcelltookarosytinge;hebegantothinkofhisfriends,andhowtheywouldsurelybeabletodosomething;oflawyers,andhowtheywouldhaveenjoyedhiscase,andwhatanasshehadbeennottogetinafew;andlastly,hethoughtofhisowngreatclevernessandresource,andallthathewascapableofifheonlygavehisgreatmindtoit;andthecurewasalmostcomplete.
Whenthegirlreturned,somehourslater,shecarriedatray,withacupoffragrantteasteamingonit;andaplatepiledupwithveryhotbutteredtoast,cutthick,verybrownonbothsides,withthebutterrunningthroughtheholesinitingreatgoldendrops,likehoneyfromthehoneycomb.ThesmellofthatbutteredtoastsimplytalkedtoToad,andwithnouncertainvoice;talkedofwarmkitchens,ofbreakfastsonbrightfrostymornings,ofcosyparlourfiresidesonwinterevenings,whenone’sramblewasover,andslipperedfeetwereproppedonthefender;ofthepurringofcontentedcats,andthetwitterofsleepycanaries.Toadsatuponendoncemore,driedhiseyes,sippedhisteaandmunchedhistoast,andsoonbegantalkingfreelyabouthimself,andthehousehelivedin,andhisdoingsthere,andhowimportanthewas,andwhatalothisfriendsthoughtofhim.
Thegaoler’sdaughtersawthatthetopicwasdoinghimasmuchgoodasthetea,asindeeditwas,andencouragedhimtogoon.
"TellmeaboutToadHall,"saidshe."Itsoundsbeautiful.
