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The Further Adventures of Toad
Helookedabouthimandfoundhewasonawidecommon,dottedwithpatchesofgorseandbrambleasfarashecouldsee.Nearhimstoodadingygipsycaravan,andbesideitamanwassittingonabucketturnedupsidedown,verybusysmokingandstaringintothewideworld.Afireofstickswasburningnearby,andoverthefirehunganironpot,andoutofthatpotcameforthbubblingsandgurglings,andavaguesuggestivesteaminess.Alsosmells—warm,rich,andvariedsmells—thattwinedandtwistedandwreathedthemselvesatlastintoonecomplete,voluptuous,perfectsmellthatseemedliketheverysoulofNaturetakingformandappearingtoherchildren,atrueGoddess,amotherofsolaceandcomfort.Toadnowknewwellthathehadnotbeenreallyhungrybefore.Whathehadfeltearlierinthedayhadbeenameretriflingqualm.Thiswastherealthingatlast,andnomistake;anditwouldhavetobedealtwithspeedily,too,ortherewouldbetroubleforsomebodyorsomething.Helookedthegipsyovercarefully,wonderingvaguelywhetheritwouldbeeasiertofighthimorcajolehim.Sotherehesat,andsniffedandsniffed,andlookedatthegipsy;andthegipsysatandsmoked,andlookedathim.
Presentlythegipsytookhispipeoutofhismouthandremarkedinacarelessway,"Wanttosellthattherehorseofyours?"
Toadwascompletelytakenaback.
