`Verywellthen！’continuedtheBadger。`BUT，whenoncetheyearhasreallyturned，andthenightsareshorter，andhalfwaythroughthemonerousesandfeelsfidgetyandwantingtobeupanddoingbysunrise，ifnotbefore——YOUknow！————’
Bothanimalsnoddedgravely。THEYknew！
`Well，THEN，’wentontheBadger，`we——thatis，youandmeandourfriendtheMolehere——we’lltakeToadseriouslyinhand。
We’llstandnononsensewhatever。We’llbringhimbacktoreason，byforceifneedbe。We’llMAKEhimbeasensibleToad。We’ll——you’reasleep，Rat！’
`Notme！’saidtheRat，wakingupwithajerk。