The Further Adventures of Toad

           THEfrontdoorofthehollowtreefacedeastwards,soToadwascalledatanearlyhour;partlybythebrightsunlightstreaminginonhim,partlybytheexceedingcoldnessofhistoes,whichmadehimdreamthathewasathomeinbedinhisownhandsomeroomwiththeTudorwindow,onacoldwinter’snight,andhisbed-clotheshadgotup,grumblingandprotestingtheycouldn’tstandthecoldanylonger,andhadrundownstairstothekitchenfiretowarmthemselves;andhehadfollowed,onbarefeet,alongmilesandmilesoficystone-pavedpassages,arguingandbeseechingthemtobereasonable.Hewouldprobablyhavebeenarousedmuchearlier,hadhenotsleptforsomeweeksonstrawoverstoneflags,andalmostforgottenthefriendlyfeelingofthickblanketspulledwelluproundthechin.

           Sittingup,herubbedhiseyesfirstandhiscomplainingtoesnext,wonderedforamomentwherehewas,lookingroundforfamiliarstonewallandlittlebarredwindow;then,withaleapoftheheart,rememberedeverything—hisescape,hisflight,hispursuit;remembered,firstandbestthingofall,thathewasfree!

           Free!Thewordandthethoughtalonewereworthfiftyblankets.Hewaswarmfromendtoendashethoughtofthejollyworldoutside,waitingeagerlyforhimtomakehistriumphalentrance,readytoservehimandplayuptohim,anxioustohelphimandtokeephimcompany,asitalwayshadbeenindaysofoldbeforemisfortunefelluponhim.