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           "Now,lookhere,Toad,"saidtheRat."It’saboutthisBanquet,andverysorryIamtohavetospeaktoyoulikethis.Butwewantyoutounderstandclearly,onceandforall,thattherearegoingtobenospeechesandnosongs.Tryandgraspthefactthatonthisoccasionwe’renotarguingwithyou;we’rejusttellingyou."

           Toadsawthathewastrapped.Theyunderstoodhim,theysawthroughhim,theyhadgotaheadofhim.Hispleasantdreamwasshattered.

           "Mayn’tIsingthemjustonelittlesong?"hepleadedpiteously.

           "No,notonelittlesong,"repliedtheRatfirmly,thoughhisheartbledashenoticedthetremblinglipofthepoordisappointedToad."It’snogood,Toady;youknowwellthatyoursongsareallconceitandboastingandvanity;andyourspeechesareallself-praiseand—and—well,andgrossexaggerationand—and—"

           "Andgas,"putintheBadger,inhiscommonway.

           "It’sforyourowngood,Toady,"wentontheRat."Youknowyoumustturnoveranewleafsoonerorlater,andnowseemsasplendidtimetobegin;asortofturning-pointinyourcareer.Pleasedon’tthinkthatsayingallthisdoesn’thurtmemorethanithurtsyou."

           Toadremainedalongwhileplungedinthought.Atlastheraisedhishead,andthetracesofstrongemotionwerevisibleonhisfeatures."Youhaveconquered,myfriends,"hesaidinbrokenaccents.