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The Toad saw at once how wrongly and foolishly he had acted. He admitted his errors and wrong-headedness and made a full apology to Rat for losing his boat and spoiling his clothes.
蟾蜍立刻看到，他的所作所为是大错特错，愚蠢透顶了。他承认自己的过失和糊涂，为了弄丢河鼠的船，弄坏了他的衣服，他向河鼠深深道歉。
And he wound up by saying, with that frank self-surrender which always disarmed his friend’s criticism and won them back to his side
他坦率的认错态度，往往会软化朋友们的批评。博得他们的谅解。他就用这种口气对河鼠说：
“Ratty! I see that I have been a headstrong and a wilful Toad! Henceforth, believe me, I will be humble and submissive, and will take no action without your kind advice and full approval!”
“鼠兄！我知道，我是个鲁莽任性的家伙！请相信我，从今往后，我要变得谦卑顺从，不经你善意的劝告和充分的赞同，我绝不采取任何行动！”
“If that is really so,” said the good-natured Rat, already appeased, “then my advice to you is, considering the lateness of the hour, to sit down and have your supper, which will be on the table in a minute, and be very patient.
性情温和的河鼠已经心平气和了，他说：“如果真能这样，那我就劝你，现在已经晚了，你坐下来吃晚饭——再过一会儿，晚饭就摆上桌了——耐着性子。
For I am convinced that we can do nothing until we have seen the Mole and the Badger, and heard their latest news, and held conference and taken their advice in this difficult matter.”
因为我认为，咱俩现在是无能为力，要等见到鼹鼠和獾以后再说。听听他们讲最近的情况，商量一下，看他们对这件棘手事儿有什么高招。”
“Oh, ah, yes, of course, the Mole and the Badger,” said Toad, lightly. “What’s become of them, the dear fellows? I had forgotten all about them.”
“噢，哦，是呀，那当然。鼹鼠和獾，”蟾蜍轻轻地说。“这两位亲爱的朋友，他们现在怎么样？我把他们全忘啦。”
“Well may you ask!” said the Rat reproachfully.
“亏你还问一声！”河鼠责备他说。
“While you were riding about the country in expensive motor-cars, and galloping proudly on blood-horses, and breakfasting on the fat of the land, those two poor devoted animals have been camping out in the open, in every sort of weather, living very rough by day and lying very hard by night;
“在你开着豪华汽车满世界兜风，骑着骏马得意地奔驰，吃喝享用天下的美食时，那两个可怜的忠实朋友却不管天晴下雨，都露宿在野外，天天吃粗食，夜夜睡硬铺
Watching over your house, patrolling your boundaries, keeping a constant eye on the stoats and the weasels, scheming and planning and contriving how to get your property back for you.”
替你守着房子．巡逻地界，随时随地监视那些白鼬和黄鼠狼。绞尽脑汁筹划怎样替你夺回财产。”
“You don’t deserve to have such true and loyal friends, Toad, you don’t, really. Some day, when it’s too late, you’ll be sorry you didn’t value them more while you had them!”
“这样真诚忠实的朋友，你不配。真的，蟾蜍，你不配。总有一天，你会懊悔当初没有珍惜他们的友情，到那时，悔之晚矣！”
“I’m an ungrateful beast, I know,” sobbed Toad, shedding bitter tears.
“我是个忘恩负义的畜牲，我知道，”蟾蜍抽泣着说，流下了伤心的眼泪。
“Let me go out and find them, out into the cold, dark night, and share their hardships, and try and prove by——Hold on a bit! Surely I heard the chink of dishes on a tray! Supper’s here at last, hooray! Come on, Ratty!”
“我这就找他们去，在冰冷漆黑的夜里出去找他们，分担他们的疾苦，我要证明——等一等，没错，我听到茶盘上碗碟的丁当声！晚饭到底来了，乌啦！来呀，鼠兄！”
The Rat remembered that poor Toad had been on prison fare for a considerable time, and that large allowances had therefore to be made. He followed him to the table accordingly, and hospitably encouraged him in his gallant efforts to make up for past privations.
河鼠记得，可怜的蟾蜍有好长时间吃监狱的饭食，所以需要多为他准备些饭菜。于是他跟着蟾蜍坐到餐桌旁，殷勤地劝他多吃，好补上前些时的亏损。
They had just finished their meal and resumed their arm-chairs, when there came a heavy knock at the door.
他们刚吃完，坐到圈椅上，就听见大门上重重的一声敲击。
Toad was nervous, but the Rat, nodding mysteriously at him, went straight up to the door and opened it, and in walked Mr. Badger.
蟾蜍立时紧张起来，可是河鼠诡秘地冲他点点头，径直走到门口，打开门。进来的是獾先生。
He had all the appearance of one who for some nights had been kept away from home and all its little comforts and conveniences. His shoes were covered with mud, and he was looking very rough and touzled; but then he had never been a very smart man, the Badger, at the best of times.
獾的那副模样，看上去足足有几夜没有回家，得不到家中的小小舒适和方便。他鞋上满是泥，衣着不整，毛发蓬乱。不过，即便在最体面的时候，獾也不是个十分讲究仪表的动物。
He came solemnly up to Toad, shook him by the paw, and said, “Welcome home, Toad! Alas! what am I saying? Home, indeed! This is a poor home-coming. Unhappy Toad!”
他神态肃穆地走到蟾蜍跟前，伸出爪子和他握手，说道：“欢迎回家来，蟾蜍！瞧我都说些什么？还说什么家！这次回家可真够惨的。不幸的蟾蜍！”
Then he turned his back on him, sat down to the table, drew his chair up, and helped himself to a large slice of cold pie.
说罢，他转过身坐到餐桌旁，拉拢椅子，切了一大块冷馅饼，吃起来。
Toad was quite alarmed at this very serious and portentous style of greeting;
这样一种极其严肃又吉凶未卜的欢迎方式，使蟾蜍感到忐忑不安。
But the Rat whispered to him, “Never mind; don’t take any notice; and don’t say anything to him just yet. He’s always rather low and despondent when he’s wanting his victuals. In half an hour’s time he’ll be quite a different animal.”
可是河鼠悄悄对他说：“没关系、别在意；暂且什么也别跟他说。他在缺食的时候、总是情绪低落、没精打采的。过半个钟头，他就会换了一副模样。”
