“Go on, Ratty,” he murmured presently; “tell me all. The worst is over. I am an animal again. I can bear it.”

“When you⁠—got⁠—into that⁠—that⁠—trouble of yours,” said the Rat, slowly and impressively; “I mean, when you⁠—disappeared from society for a time, over that misunderstanding about a⁠—a machine, you know⁠—”

Toad merely nodded.

“Well, it was a good deal talked about down here, naturally,” continued the Rat, “not only along the riverside, but even in the Wild Wood. Animals took sides, as always happens. The River-bankers stuck up for you, and said you had been infamously treated, and there was no justice to be had in the land nowadays. But the Wild Wood animals said hard things, and served you right, and it was time this sort of thing was stopped. And they got very cocky, and went about saying you were done for this time! You would never come back again, never, never!”

Toad nodded once more, keeping silence.