BADGER GETS WORD
The Mole came into his study and stopped, in awe of Ratty talking to the Head Prefect of Gerbil House, the Badger. Badger, who captained the First Eleven!
The two were sitting by the study fire like equals, and when the great Badger, an overlord of sixteen and a half saw the Mole hesitate (Moley was always polite and worried that he was interrupting) the prefect motioned him over, and gave the protesting Mole the armchair.
"Look here, Mole." Rat said, annoyed. "Our study-mate, the new one-"
"Toad?" Mole smiled. Toad was frightfully amusing, but Ratty was slow to warm up.
"Well he's corrupted young Sebastian Badger, cousin of Badger Major here."
Mole bit his lip, not daring to look straight at Badger. Corrupted?
Badger winced. "It's not as bad as all that. You probably know my little First Form cousins-Septimus, Stanislaus and Sebastian-we call him Basty at home."
"Yes, Stan is a great wicket taker, my minor tells me." Mole said hesitantly. Mole had little interest in sports, and of course none in the fag forms.
"Right...but Basty has been going around with Toad-Toad's sent him out to get cigs and taught Basty bridge. And you know, the triplet's pater is a vicar. Gambling, by George!"
Rat gave Mole a severe look. "I'm not trying to badger you-so to speak" Ratty grinned guiltily at the Head Prefect-"But really, Mole. You seem the closest to Toad, and I thought you and I could discuss the doubtful morals of sending kids down to the village-"
"And that your Toad apparently imbibes himself!" Badger grimaced. "I've heard from Basty, who is a bit of a sneak, that Toad actually keeps Madeira Rum in in the grate sometimes."
"I smashed it up." Rat said. "Of course I wouldn't mention it to you pre's, but I did get Toad's head in chancery and batter him a bit. Not much good it did."
At this point the study door opened again, and Toad burst in."Hallo chappies!"
Ratty lifted his eyes levelly at Toad's. "You've been taking Badger's cousin about and feeding him liquor and ciggies, we understand."
"He's a lonely little fellow, Rat." Toad said severely. Toad then looked at Badger. "But you are at fault, Badger for not spending more time with him. We had a glorious day today at the racetrack, you know. Young Badger minimus won half a crown on "Four Seasons" and he didn't even consult the racing form!"
Badgeropened his mouth and closed it. Ratty's eyes glowed and Mole looked terribly embarassed.
"After that, I took Basty to that new bordello on Woodchuck Lane. He is talking about eloping with the girl he met there, but I think eleven's too young, don't you?"