Kenneth Grahame - Wind In The Willows - Toad Steals The Car

Toad, thinking he has recovered from his automobile addiction, finds he is not.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The sign of the red Lion swinging across the road
half way down the main street, reminded him that he
had not yet breakfasted that day, and that he was
exceedingly hungry after his long walk. He marched into the inn,
ordered the best luncheon that could be provided at so
short a notice, and sat down to eat it in
the coffee room. He was about half way through his

(00:20):
meal when an only too familiar sound approaching down the
street made him start and fall a trembling all over
the poop poop drew nearer and nearer the car could
be heard to turn into the inn yard and come
to a stop, and Toad had a hold on to
the leg of the table to conceal his overmastering emotion. Presently,

(00:41):
the party entered the coffee room, hungry, talkative, and gay,
voluble on their experiences of the morning and the merits
of the chariot that had brought them along so well.
Toad listened eagerly all ears for a time. At last
he could stand it no longer. He slipped out of
the room, quietly, paid his bill at the bar, and

(01:01):
as soon as he got outside, sauntered around quietly to
the inn. Yard. It cannot be any harm, he said
to himself in Miami giest looking at it. The car
stood in the middle of the yard, quite unattended, the
stable helps and other hangers on all being at their dinner.
Toad walked slowly around it, inspecting, criticizing, amusing deeply. I wonder,

(01:26):
he said to himself, presently if this sort of car
starts easily. The next moment, hardly knowing how it came about,
he found he had hold of the handle and was
turning it. As the familiar sound broke forth. The old
passion seized on Toad and completely mastered him body and soul,
As if in a dream. He found himself somehow seated

(01:48):
in the driver's seat, as if in a dream, He
pulled the lever and swung the car round the yard
and out through the archway, And as if in a dream,
all sense of right and wrong, all fear of obvious consequences,
seemed to temporarily suspend. He increased his pace as the
car devoured the street and leapt forth on the high

(02:08):
road through the open country. He was only conscious that
he was towed. Once more, Toad at his best and highest,
Toad the terror, the traffic queller, the Lord of the
lone trail, before whom all must give way or be
smitten into nothingness and everlasting night. He chanted as he flew,
and the car responded with Sonora strone. The miles were

(02:29):
eaten up under him as he sped. He knew not whither,
fulfilling his instincts, living his hour, reckless of what might
come to him.