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The idea pleased him mightily, and he worked very hard and got all the letters finished by noon, at which hour it was reported to him that there was a small and rather bedraggled weasel at the door, inquiring timidly whether he could be of any service to the gentlemen.
这个想法，使他大为得意，于是他努力写信，到中午时分，所有的信都写完了。这时，有人通报说，门口来了一只身材瘦小衣着槛褛的黄鼠狼，怯生生地问他能不能为先生们效劳。
Toad swaggered out and found it was one of the prisoners of the previous evening, very respectful and anxious to please.
蟾蜍大摇大摆地走出去瞧，原来是头天晚上被俘的一只黄鼠狼，现在正必恭必敬地巴望讨他的欢心哩。
He patted him on the head, shoved the bundle of invitations into his paw, and told him to cut along quick and deliver them as fast as he could, and if he liked to come back again in the evening, perhaps there might be a shilling for him, or, again, perhaps there mightn’t;
蟾蜍拍了拍他的脑袋，把那一沓子邀请信塞在他爪子里，吩咐他抄近道，火速把信送出去。要是他愿意晚上再来，也许给他一先令酬劳，也许没有。
And the poor weasel seemed really quite grateful, and hurried off eagerly to do his mission.
可怜的黄鼠狼受宠若惊，匆匆赶去执行任务了。
When the other animals came back to luncheon, very boisterous and breezy after a morning on the river, the Mole, whose conscience had been pricking him, looked doubtfully at Toad, expecting to find him sulky or depressed.
另三只动物在河上消磨了一上午，欢欢喜喜谈笑风生地回来吃午饭：鼹鼠觉得有些对不住蟾蜍，不放心地望着他，生怕他会是一脸愠色、郁郁不乐。
Instead, he was so uppish and inflated that the Mole began to suspect something; while the Rat and the Badger exchanged significant glances.
谁知，蟾蜍竟是一副盛气凌人、趾高气扬的样子。鼹鼠不禁纳闷，感到其中必有缘由。河鼠和獾，则会心地互换了一下眼色。
As soon as the meal was over, Toad thrust his paws deep into his trouser-pockets, remarked casually
上午饭刚吃完，蟾蜍就把双爪深深插进裤兜，漫不经心地说：
“Well, look after yourselves, you fellows! Ask for anything you want!” and was swaggering off in the direction of the garden, where he wanted to think out an idea or two for his coming speeches, when the Rat caught him by the arm.
“好吧，伙计们，你们自己照顾自己吧，需要什么，只管吩咐！”说罢，就大摇大摆朝花园走去。他要在那里好好构思一下今晚的演说内容。这时，河鼠抓住了他的胳臂。
Toad rather suspected what he was after, and did his best to get away; but when the Badger took him firmly by the other arm he began to see that the game was up.
蟾蜍立刻猜到河鼠的来意，想要挣脱；可是当獾紧紧抓住他的另一只胳臂时，他明白，事情败露了。
The two animals conducted him between them into the small smoking-room that opened out of the entrance-hall, shut the door, and put him into a chair. Then they both stood in front of him, while Toad sat silent and regarded them with much suspicion and ill-humour.
两只动物架着他，带到那间通向门厅的小吸烟室，关上门，把他按在椅子上。然后，他俩都站在他前面，蟾蜍则一言不发地坐着，心怀鬼胎、没好气地望着他们。
“Now, look here, Toad,” said the Rat.
“听着，蟾蜍，” 河鼠说
“It’s about this Banquet, and very sorry I am to have to speak to you like this. But we want you to understand clearly, once and for all, that there are going to be no speeches and no songs.
“是有关宴会的事。很抱歉，我不得不这样跟你说话。不过，我们希望你明白，宴会上不搞讲演，不搞唱歌。
Try and grasp the fact that on this occasion we’re not arguing with you; we’re just telling you.”
你要放清醒些，我们不是和你讨论，而是通知你这个决定。”
Toad saw that he was trapped. They understood him, they saw through him, they had got ahead of him. His pleasant dream was shattered.
蟾蜍知道，自己落进了圈套。他们了解他，把他看得透透的。他们抢在了他头里。他的美梦破灭了。
“Mayn’t I sing them just one little song?” he pleaded piteously.
“我能不能就唱一支小歌？”他可怜巴巴地央求道。
“No, not one little song,” replied the Rat firmly, though his heart bled as he noticed the trembling lip of the poor disappointed Toad.
“不行，一支小歌也不能唱，”河鼠坚定地说，尽管他看到可怜的蟾蜍那颤抖的嘴唇，也怪心疼的。
“It’s no good, Toady; you know well that your songs are all conceit and boasting and vanity; and your speeches are all self-praise and--and--well, and gross exaggeration and--and----”
“那没好处，小蟾儿；你很清楚，你的歌全是自吹自擂，你的讲话全是自我炫耀，全是全是全是粗鄙的夸张，全是全是——”
“And gas,” put in the Badger, in his common way.
“胡吹！”獾干脆地说。
“It’s for your own good, Toady,” went on the Rat.
“小蟾儿，这是为你好呀，”河鼠继续说。
“You know you must turn over a new leaf sooner or later, and now seems a splendid time to begin; a sort of turning-point in your career. Please don’t think that saying all this doesn’t hurt me more than it hurts you.”
“你知道，你早晚得洗心革面，而现在正是重敲锣鼓另开张的大好时机，是你一生的转折点。请相信，说这话，我心里也不好受，一点不比你好受。”
Toad remained a long while plunged in thought. At last he raised his head, and the traces of strong emotion were visible on his features.
蟾蜍沉思了良久。最后，他抬起头，脸上显出深深动情的神色。
