The sentries were on the look-out, of course,
with their guns and their "Who comes there?" and all the rest of their
nonsense. "Good morning, gentlemen!" says I, very respectful. "Want
any washing done to-day?"
'They looked at me very proud and stiff and haughty, and said, "Go
away, washerwoman! We don't do any washing on duty." "Or any other
time?" says I. Ho, ho, ho! Wasn't I FUNNY, Toad?'
'Poor, frivolous animal!' said Toad, very loftily. The fact is, he
felt exceedingly jealous of Mole for what he had just done. It was
exactly what he would have liked to have done himself, if only he had
thought of it first, and hadn't gone and overslept himself.
'Some of the stoats turned quite pink,' continued the Mole, 'and the
Sergeant in charge, he said to me, very short, he said, "Now run away,
my good woman, run away! Don't keep my men idling and talking on
their posts." "Run away?" says I; "it won't be me that'll be running
away, in a very short time from now!"'
'O MOLY, how could you?' said the Rat, dismayed.
The Badger laid down his paper.
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