table-cloth and spread it, took out all the mysterious packets one by
one and arranged their contents in due order, still gasping, 'O my! O
my!' at each fresh revelation. When all was ready, the Rat said,
'Now, pitch in, old fellow!' and the Mole was indeed very glad to
obey, for he had started his spring-cleaning at a very early hour that
morning, as people WILL do, and had not paused for bite or sup; and he
had been through a very great deal since that distant time which now
seemed so many days ago.

'What are you looking at?' said the Rat presently, when the edge of
their hunger was somewhat dulled, and the Mole's eyes were able to
wander off the table-cloth a little.

'I am looking,' said the Mole, 'at a streak of bubbles that I see
travelling along the surface of the water. That is a thing that
strikes me as funny.'

'Bubbles? Oho!' said the Rat, and chirruped cheerily in an inviting
sort of way.

A broad glistening muzzle showed itself above the edge of the bank,
and the Otter hauled himself out and shook the water from his coat.

'Greedy beggars!' he observed, making for the provender. 'Why didn't
you invite me, Ratty?'

'This was an impromptu affair,' explained the Rat. 'By the way--my
friend Mr. Mole.'

'Proud, I'm sure,' said the Otter, and the two animals were friends