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The Further Adventures of Toad
Nowmyhusband,he’ssuchafellowforshirkinghisworkandleavingthebargetome,thatneveramomentdoIgetforseeingtomyownaffairs.Byrightsheoughttobeherenow,eithersteeringorattendingtothehorse,thoughluckilythehorsehassenseenoughtoattendtohimself.Insteadofwhich,he’sgoneoffwiththedog,toseeiftheycan’tpickuparabbitfordinnersomewhere.Sayshe’llcatchmeupatthenextlock.Well,that’sasmaybe—Idon’ttrusthim,oncehegetsoffwiththatdog,who’sworsethanheis.Butmeantime,howamItogetonwithmywashing?"
"O,nevermindaboutthewashing,"saidToad,notlikingthesubject."Tryandfixyourmindonthatrabbit.Anicefatyoungrabbit,I’llbebound.Gotanyonions?"
"Ican’tfixmymindonanythingbutmywashing,"saidthebarge-woman,"andIwonderyoucanbetalkingofrabbits,withsuchajoyfulprospectbeforeyou.There’saheapofthingsofminethatyou’llfindinacornerofthecabin.Ifyou’lljusttakeoneortwoofthemostnecessarysort—Iwon’tventuretodescribethemtoaladylikeyou,butyou’llrecognisethemataglance—andputthemthroughthewash-tubaswegoalong,why,it’llbeapleasuretoyou,asyourightlysay,andarealhelptome.You’llfindatubhandy,andsoap,andakettleonthestove,andabuckettohaulupwaterfromthecanalwith.ThenIshallknowyou’reenjoyingyourself,insteadofsittinghereidle,lookingatthesceneryandyawningyourheadoff.
