IN WHICH THE WILLOWS PREPARATORY SUFFERS A NEW BOY

Waiting about the quadrangle, watching Ratty light an illegal cigarette, Mole overheard his young brother, Mole Minor of the Second Form, prattling away with his bosom friend Frog.

"So, he's to come to the Prep, is he, Froggy?" Minor leaned against a tree. "Interesting sort, I wager?"

"He's a piece of work, my cousin." Frog chuckled. "Sacked from Amphibian Academy, and Mammals Conservatory, and not exactly sacked but asked not to come back to St. Squirrel's. I doubted he'd be accepted here, Cousin Toad, but my Pater is an Old Boy, and Badger, who is head prefect of Gerbil House, promised to look after him."

The Water Rat nudged Mole major. "What are the fags prattling about?" Ratty had hurriedly pocketed his tobacco, as their Latin master was taking the air nearby.

"Some new student, I guess. More young'uns, I suppose." Mole smiled indulgently. "Most annoying, you know, kids." The Mole pretended that he barely tolerated the Second Formers, as if he were an old grandfather, and not just a Fourth Former himself, who enjoyed playing Ludo with his minor in the holidays.

Froggy looked over at the Mole. "Oh no, Mole...my relative is going to be in your Form." Frog sniggered in a way that made Ratty want to knuckle his green head. "Actually, Toad is a bit older than you chaps, having not gotten his remove yet, a duffer in French and plane Geometry."

Mole and Ratty looked at each other and shrugged. "Another one for Gerbil House, I suppose." The Rat shook his head dispiritedly. "He'll probably-this Toad-be shoved into Study No. 5 with us, Moley. Since Otter moved over to Sparrow House, our study does have the room, more's the pity. Drat!"

Mole shook his snout good naturedly. "Rat, it's good to meet new fellows, and perhaps he'll be a fun. Certainly he probably will be a bit lonely. I was until you took me under your wing. I'm not the social genius my young brother is."

Rat patted his friend's shoulder good naturedly. Though a useful coxswain on Ratty's boat, Mole didn't have his minor's skill at capturing wickets or playing pranks. And the Preparatory had the usual value for a boy's skills...but Mole Major was a bookworm, if not a swot.

Suddenly, the two heard a great commotion near the gate.

There was the puff puff of a motor-bike. "Porter, take my trunk to the dorm. Look out you chaps, Toad's here to be Cock of the Walk, and wake up the Willows Preparatory!"

And indeed there was a small green creature, wearing goggles, dancing up and down next to his cycle.

"Oh glorious." Rat said distastefully. "We have a lively one."