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The Open Road
Hehateddisappointingpeople,andhewasfondoftheMole,andwoulddoalmostanythingtoobligehim.Toadwaswatchingbothofthemclosely.
"Comealongin,andhavesomelunch,"hesaid,diplomatically,"andwe’lltalkitover.Weneedn’tdecideanythinginahurry.Ofcourse,Idon’treallycare.Ionlywanttogivepleasuretoyoufellows.‘Liveforothers!’That’smymottoinlife."
Duringluncheon—whichwasexcellent,ofcourse,aseverythingatToadHallalwayswas—theToadsimplylethimselfgo.DisregardingtheRat,heproceededtoplayupontheinexperiencedMoleasonaharp.Naturallyavolubleanimal,andalwaysmasteredbyhisimagination,hepaintedtheprospectsofthetripandthejoysoftheopenlifeandtheroadsideinsuchglowingcoloursthattheMolecouldhardlysitinhischairforexcitement.Somehow,itsoonseemedtakenforgrantedbyallthreeofthemthatthetripwasasettledthing;andtheRat,thoughstillunconvincedinhismind,allowedhisgood-naturetoover-ridehispersonalobjections.Hecouldnotbeartodisappointhistwofriends,whowerealreadydeepinschemesandanticipations,planningouteachday’sseparateoccupationforseveralweeksahead.
Whentheywerequiteready,thenowtriumphantToadledhiscompanionstothepaddockandsetthemtocapturetheoldgreyhorse,who,withouthavingbeenconsulted,andtohisownextremeannoyance,hadbeentoldoffbyToadforthedustiestjobinthisdustyexpedition.
