'And
what's the weather like outside? You needn't "sir" me quite so much?'
he added.
'O, terrible bad, sir, terrible deep the snow is,' said the hedgehog.
'No getting out for the likes of you gentlemen to-day.'
'Where's Mr. Badger?' inquired the Mole, as he warmed the coffee-pot
before the fire.
'The master's gone into his study, sir,' replied the hedgehog, 'and he
said as how he was going to be particular busy this morning, and on no
account was he to be disturbed.'
This explanation, of course, was thoroughly understood by every one
present. The fact is, as already set forth, when you live a life of
intense activity for six months in the year, and of comparative or
actual somnolence for the other six, during the latter period you
cannot be continually pleading sleepiness when there are people about
or things to be done. The excuse gets monotonous. The animals well
knew that Badger, having eaten a hearty breakfast, had retired to his
study and settled himself in an arm-chair with his legs up on another
and a red cotton handkerchief over his face, and was being 'busy' in
the usual way at this time of the year.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93