Toad looked up from the bench.
"Are you all right?" said the train engineer.
"You don't look very happy."
"Oh, sir!" said Toad, crying.
"I am a poor washwoman.
I lost all my money."
"That's awful," said the engineer.
"I can't pay for a ticket," cried Toad.
"I must get home!"
"Do you have kids?" asked the engineer.
"Why, yes!" said Toad.
"I have lots of kids.
They will be crying and hungry."
"Well, I'll help you," said the engineer.
"You can wash my shirts to repay me."
"I will, as soon as I get home," said Toad.
"Hop up!" said the engineer.
"You can ride on the engine with me."
Toad thanked him and climbed up.
Toad didn't know how to wash a shirt.
He wasn't going to learn either.
"I'll send him money," Toad thought.
"I'll send enough to wash his shirts for a year!"
A flagman at the station waved a flag.
The engineer blew his whistle.
The train sped away.
Toad danced with delight.
"Soon I'll be at Toad Hall!" Toad thought.
The engineer leaned out the side.
"I hear another train behind us!" he shouted.
"It's chasing us, and it's coming fast!"