Kenneth Grahame: The Wind in the Willows

10. THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOAD (continued)

`What a bit of luck, meeting you!' observed the barge-woman, thoughtfully. `A regular piece of good fortune for both of us!'

`Why, what do you mean?' asked Toad, nervously.

`Well, look at me, now,' replied the barge-woman. `_I_ like washing, too, just the same as you do; and for that matter, whether I like it or not I have got to do all my own, naturally, moving about as I do. Now my husband, he's such a fellow for shirking his work and leaving the barge to me, that never a moment do I get for seeing to my own affairs. By rights he ought to be here now, either steering or attending to the horse, though luckily the horse has sense enough to attend to himself. Instead of which, he's gone off with the dog, to see if they can't pick up a rabbit for dinner somewhere. Says he'll catch me up at the next lock. Well, that's as may be--I don't trust him, once he gets off with that dog, who's worse than he is. But meantime, how am I to get on with my washing?'

`O, never mind about the washing,' said Toad, not liking the subject. `Try and fix your mind on that rabbit. A nice fat young rabbit, I'll be bound. Got any onions?'

`I can't fix my mind on anything but my washing,' said the barge- woman, `and I wonder you can be talking of rabbits, with such a joyful prospect before you. There's a heap of things of mine that you'll find in a corner of the cabin. If you'll just take one or two of the most necessary sort--I won't venture to describe them to a lady like you, but you'll recognise them at a glance--and put them through the wash-tub as we go along, why, it'll be a pleasure to you, as you rightly say, and a real help to me. You'll find a tub handy, and soap, and a kettle on the stove, and a bucket to haul up water from the canal with. Then I shall know you're enjoying yourself, instead of sitting here idle, looking at the scenery and yawning your head off.'