Page:Wind in the Willows (1913).djvu/110

 other six—so far as they can be accounted for."

"He's been in hospital three times," put in the Mole; "and as for the fines he's had to pay, it's simply awful to think of."

"Yes, and that's part of the trouble," the Rat. "Toad's rich, we all know; but he's not a millionaire. And he's a bad driver, and quite regardless of law and order. Killed or ruined—it's got to be one of the two things, sooner or later. Badger! we're his friends—oughtn't we to do something?"

The Badger went through a bit of hard thinking. "Now look here!" he said at last, rather severely; "of course you know I can't do anything now?"

His two friends assented, quite understanding his point. No animal, according to the rules of animal etiquette, is ever expected to do any - thing strenuous, or heroic, or even moderately active during the off-season of winter. All are sleepy—some actually asleep. All are weather- bound, more or less; and all are resting from arduous days and nights, during which every