The Wind in the Willows – Part 7
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Chapter 4 – The Meeting with Mr Badger
They waited patiently for a very long time, jumping up and down in the snow to keep warm. At last they heard feet coming slowly towards the door. Then the door opened, just enough to show a long nose and pair of sleepy eyes.
‘And who,’ said a deep, angry voice, ‘is making visits at this time of night?’
‘Oh, Badger,’ cried the Rat, ‘let us in, please. It’s me, Rat, and my friend Mole, and we’re lost in the snow.’
‘What?’ said the Badger, in a very different voice. ‘My dear Ratty! Lost in the snow, and in the Wild Wood! Come in at once, both of you, and get yourselves warm.’
That was a wonderful moment for the Mole and the Rat, when they heard the door close behind them, shutting out the Wild Wood. They followed the Badger down long dark tunnels until they came into a large kitchen. There was a bright fire, with comfortable armchairs round it, and a great wooden table with long seats.
‘This is not the kind of night for small animals to be out,’ the Badger said, in a fatherly way. ‘Sit yourselves down by the fire, while I get you some supper.’
Soon the Mole and the Rat were warm and dry, and the dangers of the Wild Wood seemed a long way away, like a bad dream. Then supper arrived. It was enough for ten small hungry animals, and the Rat and the Mole realized just how hungry they were. When at last they could eat no more, they sat with the Badger round the fire, and told him the story of their adventures.
Then the Badger said, ‘Now then! Tell me the news from your part of the world. How’s old Toad getting on?’
‘He’s going from bad to worse,’ said the Rat sadly. ‘He had another crash only last week, and a bad one. You see, he thinks he’s a wonderful driver, the best in the world. But he isn’t. He’s terrible! But he won’t take lessons, he won’t listen to anyone.’ ‘How many has he had?’ the Badger asked.
‘Crashes, or motor-cars?’ asked the Rat. ‘Well, with Toad, it’s the same thing. This is the seventh car, and the seventh crash. His garage is full to the roof with bits of broken motorcar!’
‘He’s been in hospital twice,’ the Mole added. ‘The police have arrested him for dangerous driving three or four times. And he’s spending so much money!’
‘That’s another problem,’ the Rat went on. ‘Toad’s rich, we all know that; but his money won’t last for ever. Sooner or later, one of two things will happen. He’ll kill himself in a crash, or he’ll have no money left at all. Badger! We’re his friends – can’t we do something?’
The Badger thought for a while. ‘You know, don’t you, that I can’t do anything now?’ he said at last.
‘No, no, of course not,’ the Rat and the Mole said together. Everybody knew that in the animal world the winter was a time for rest and sleep. Nobody wanted to do anything important or tiring.
‘Very well,’ continued the Badger. ‘But when the days get longer and warmer, then we’ll do something. We – you and me , and our friend the Mole here – we’ll try to teach Toad a lesson. We won’t listen to any silliness. We’ll bring him back to reason, and turn him into a sensible Toad at last. But now, it’s time for bed. Don’t hurry tomorrow morning – come for breakfast as late as you want!’