the wind in the willows(柳间风)-第34节
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sniffed； and looked at the gipsy； and the gipsy sat and smoked； and looked
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at him。
Presently the gipsy took his pipe out of his mouth and remarked in a
careless way； ‘Want to sell that there horse of yours？'
Toad was completely taken aback。 He did not know that gipsies were
very fond of horse…dealing； and never missed an opportunity； and he had
not reflected that caravans were always on the move and took a deal of
drawing。 It had not occurred to him to turn the horse into cash； but the
gipsy's suggestion seemed to smooth the way towards the two things he
wanted so badlyready money； and a solid breakfast。
‘What？' he said； ‘me sell this beautiful young horse of mine？ O； no； it's
out of the question。 Who's going to take the washing home to my
customers every week？ Besides； I'm too fond of him； and he simply dotes
on me。'
‘Try and love a donkey；' suggested the gipsy。 ‘Some people do。'
‘You don't seem to see；' continued Toad； ‘that this fine horse of mine is
a cut above you altogether。 He's a blood horse； he is； partly； not the part
you see； of courseanother part。 And he's been a Prize Hackney； too； in his
timethat was the time before you knew him； but you can still tell it on
him at a glance； if you understand anything about horses。 No； it's not to be
thought of for a moment。 All the same； how much might you be disposed
to offer me for this beautiful young horse of mine？'
The gipsy looked the horse over； and then he looked Toad over with
equal care； and looked at the horse again。 ‘Shillin' a leg；' he said briefly；
and turned away； continuing to smoke and try to stare the wide world out
of countenance。
‘A shilling a leg？' cried Toad。 ‘If you please； I must take a little time to
work that out； and see just what it comes to。'
He climbed down off his horse； and left it to graze； and sat down by
the gipsy； and did sums on his fingers； and at last he said； ‘A shilling a leg？
Why； that comes to exactly four shillings； and no more。 O； no； I could not
think of accepting four shillings for this beautiful young horse of mine。'
‘Well；' said the gipsy； ‘I'll tell you what I will do。 I'll make it five
shillings； and that's three…and…sixpence more than the animal's worth。 And
that's my last word。'
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Then Toad sat and pondered long and deeply。 For he was hungry and
quite penniless； and still some wayhe knew not how far from home；
and enemies might still be looking for him。 To one in such a situation； five
shillings may very well appear a large sum of money。 On the other hand； it
did not seem very much to get for a horse。 But then； again； the horse
hadn't cost him anything； so whatever he got was all clear profit。 At last he
said firmly； ‘Look here； gipsy！ I tell you what we will do； and this is MY
last word。 You shall hand me over six shillings and sixpence； cash down；
and further； in addition thereto； you shall give me as much breakfast as I
can possibly eat； at one sitting of course； out of that iron pot of yours that
keeps sending forth such delicious and exciting smells。 In return； I will
make over to you my spirited young horse； with all the beautiful harness
and trappings that are on him； freely thrown in。 If that's not good enough
for you； say so； and I'll be getting on。 I know a man near here who's
wanted this horse of mine for years。'
The gipsy grumbled frightfully； and declared if he did a few more
deals of that sort he'd be ruined。 But in the end he lugged a dirty canvas
bag out of the depths of his trouser pocket； and counted out six shillings
and sixpence into Toad's paw。 Then he disappeared into the caravan for an
instant； and returned with a large iron plate and a knife； fork； and spoon。
He tilted up the pot； and a glorious stream of hot rich stew gurgled into the
plate。 It was； indeed； the most beautiful stew in the world； being made of
partridges； and pheasants； and chickens； and hares； and rabbits； and pea…
hens； and guinea…fowls； and one or two other things。 Toad took the plate
on his lap； almost crying； and stuffed； and stuffed； and stuffed； and kept
asking for more； and the gipsy never grudged it him。 He thought that he
had never eaten so good a breakfast in all his life。
When Toad had taken as much stew on board as he thought he could
possibly hold； he got up and said good…bye to the gipsy； and took an
affectionate farewell of the horse； and the gipsy； who knew the riverside
well； gave him directions which way to go； and he set forth on his travels
again in the best possible spirits。 He was； indeed； a very different Toad
from the animal of an hour ago。 The sun was shining brightly； his wet
clothes were quite dry again； he had money in his pocket once more； he
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was nearing home and friends and safety； and； most and best of all； he had
had a substantial meal； hot and nourishing； and felt big； and strong； and
careless； and self…confident。
As he tramped along gaily； he thought of his adventures and escapes；
and how when things seemed at their worst he had always managed to find
a way out； and his pride and conceit began to swell within him。 ‘Ho； ho！'
he said to himself as he marched along with his chin in the air； ‘what a
clever Toad I am！ There is surely no animal equal to me for cleverness in
the whole world！ My enemies shut me up in prison； encircled by sentries；
watched night and day by warders； I walk out through them all； by sheer
ability coupled with courage。 They pursue me with engines； and
policemen； and revolvers； I snap my fingers at them； and vanish； laughing；
into space。 I am； unfortunately； thrown into a canal by a woman fat of
body and very evil…minded。 What of it？ I swim ashore； I seize her horse； I
ride off in triumph； and I sell the horse for a whole pocketful of money
and an excellent breakfast！ Ho； ho！ I am The Toad； the handsome； the
popular； the successful Toad！' He got so puffed up with conceit that he
made up a song as he walked in praise of himself； and sang it at the top of
his voice； though there was no one to hear it but him。 It was perhaps the
most conceited song that any animal ever composed。
‘The world has held great Heroes； As history…books have showed；
But never a name to go down to fame Compared with that of Toad！
‘The clever men at Oxford Know all that there is to be knowed。 But
they none of them know one half as much As intelligent Mr。 Toad！
‘The animals sat in the Ark and cried； Their tears in torrents flowed。
Who was it said； 〃There's land ahead？〃 Encouraging Mr。 Toad！
‘The army all saluted As they marched along the road。 Was it the
King？ Or Kitchener？ No。 It was Mr。 Toad。
‘The Queen and her Ladies…in…waiting Sat at the window and sewed。
She cried； 〃Look！ who's that HANDSOME man？〃 They answered； 〃Mr。
Toad。〃'
There was a great deal more of the same sort； but too dreadfully
conceited to be written down。 These are some of the milder verses。
He sang as he walked； and he walked as he sang； and got more inflated
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every minute。 But his pride was shortly to have a severe fall。
After some miles of country lanes he reached the high road； and as he
turned into it and glanced along its white length； he saw approaching him
a speck that turned into a dot and then into a blob； and then into something
very familiar； and a double note of warning； only too well known； fell on
his delighted ear。
‘This is something like！' said the excited Toad。 ‘This is real life again；
this is once more the great world from which I have been missed so long！ I
will hail them； my brothers of the wheel； and pitch them a yarn； of the sort
that has been so successful hitherto； and they will give me a lift； of course；
and then I will talk to them some more； and； perhaps； with luck； it may
even end in my driving up to Toad Hall in a motor…car！ That will be one in
the
