““But the Rabbit did not care. This Toad—this courageous, gay, glorious Toad—seemed to her a sort of beau ideal, precisely the sort of fellow a young animal might esteem and even strive to emulate. She exclaimed, “You are so very resourceful!” “Not at all, not at all,” the Toad said. “You seem a Rabbit of intrepidity. I am sure you have had adventures of your own.” “O no, nothing to compare,” the Rabbit said with envy. “I have only been in a hot-air balloon ascent, and there was the time I became involved in a bank robbery. But they were very nearly accidents.” She sounded regretful. “Dear Lottie,” said Beryl warningly, in a tone most of those present recognized, having used it themselves many times with the Toad.””
