【英】《柳林风声》第3集： Toad Hall

“Ratty,”said Mole suddenly one bright summer morning,“if you please, I would like you to take me to meet Mr. Toad.”

“Why certainly,”said Rat. He jumped up and put his poetry aside.“Get the boat out and we’ll paddle up at once. It’s never a bad time to call on Mr. Toad. He’s always glad to see you and always sad to see you go.”

“He must be a nice animal,”said Mole as he grabbed the oars.

Rat settled into the stern and took hold of the oars.“He is indeed. So good-natured and so caring. Very affectionate. Perhaps not the most clever. We can’t all be geniuses you know.”

Rat smiled and started rowing.“He’s a bit conceited and boastful. But, a good animal indeed.”

Rounding a bend in the river, they came in sight of a handsome, dignified old house with red bricks. The lawns were well kept and reached down to the water’s edge.

“There’s Toad Hall,”said Rat.“And that creek on the left leads to his boathouse. That’s where we’ll leave the boat. The stables are over there to the right. Straight ahead is the banquet hall. Toad is rather rich, you know. He has the nicest house in these parts.”He stepped off the boat.“Of course, I’d never tell that to Toad!”

They headed up the bank and passed the boathouse. Rows of boats were lined up and slung from the crossbeams. Some were hauled up on a slip. None were in the water. It looked as if no one had visited the boathouse in a long time.

Rat said,“Now I understand. Toad’s tired of boating. Done with it. I wonder what new fad he’s taken up now? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.”

They came upon Toad resting in a wicker chair with a large map spread out on his knees.

“Hooray!”Toad cried, jumping up to see them.“This is splendid.”He shook both their paws warmly, never waiting for an introduction to Mole.“I was just about to send a boat for you, Ratty. I am so lucky you both turned up now.”

“Let’s sit a bit, Toady,”said Rat, throwing himself down in a chair. Mole sat down beside him and complimented Toad on his fine house.

“Finest house on the whole river,”boasted Toad.“Or anywhere else for that matter.”

Rat nudged Mole and snickered. Toad saw it and laughed.“You know it’s just how I am, Ratty! It’s my way to think highly of myself and my home. And you know that you agree it’s the finest house here! Anyway, I need you, Ratty.”

“To help you row?”asked Rat.“You still splash a great deal. With great patience, care, and some coaching—”

“Boating? Oh, no! No boating!”said Toad.

“That’s silly boyish stuff. I’ve given that up long ago. Sheer waste of time. No, I discovered something much better.”

Toad led his friends to the stable. There, they saw a caravan. A car on wheels drawn by a horse! It was shiny, new, and painted a canary yellow and green. It had red wheels.

“There you are,”said Toad.“This is real life. The open road! The dusty highway! Camps, villages, towns, and cities! Here today and up and off somewhere new tomorrow. Travel! The whole world before you! This is the finest cart of its kind ever built without exception. Come look at the arrangements. Planned them all myself!”

Mole was very excited and interested. He followed Toad eagerly up the steps and into the caravan. Rat snorted. He thrust his hands into his pockets. He didn’t budge.

Toad stepped inside and proudly said,“It has everything you could possibly want inside. Look how comfortable it is.”

Mole noticed little sleeping bunks and a table that folded up against the wall. There was also a stove, lockers, bookshelves, pots, jugs, and even a birdcage with a bird inside.

“All complete,”said Toad as he pulled open a locker.“Look! Biscuits, sardines, lobster, bacon, and jam. Nothing has been forgotten. We’ll have everything we’ll need this afternoon.”

“I beg your pardon, Toad,”said Rat.“Did I hear you say we’ll ?‘We’ll have everything we need’?”

“You must come, Ratty. Don’t start talking in that stiff and snitty way. It will be an adventure. Don’t stick to your boat your whole life. You can’t live in a hole forever. I want to show you the world. I’m going to make an animal of you, my boy.”

“I don’t care,”said Rat.“I’m not coming and that’s that. I love the river, and I’ll stick to it. Mole is going to stick with me, too. Aren’t you, Mole?”

“Of course I am, Rat,”said Mole loyally.“I’ll always stick with you, Rat. But it does all sound rather fun.”

Poor Mole! His adventures were all so new and thrilling. The thought of going with Toad appealed to him, but he didn’t dare let his new friend down.

Rat saw the temptation in Mole’s heart. The excitement of a new adventure. He hated disappointing people, and he was so fond of Mole.

By the time lunch was over, Rat decided he could not bear to disappoint his two friends. Soon, all three were making plans for their adventure. In no time, they were off on the dusty road.