But he did n't mind it . Not then , anyway . He had n't room for any feeling except fear of Mr. Blacksnake . But Old Mr. Toad had to stop after a while . You see , his legs were so tired they just would n't go any longer . And he was so out of breath that he wheezed . He crawled under a big piece of bark , and there he lay flat on the ground and panted and panted for breath . He would stay there until jolly , round , bright Mr. Sun went to bed behind the Purple Hills . Then Mr. Blacksnake would go to bed too , and it would be safe for him to go home . Now , lying there in the dark , for it was dark under that big piece of bark , Old Mr. Toad had time to think . Little by little he began to understand that his invitation to dine with Buster Bear had been part of a plan by his old friends and neighbors whom he had so snubbed and looked down on when he had been puffed up with pride , to teach him a lesson . At first he was angry , very angry indeed . Then he began to see how foolish and silly he had been , and shame took the place of anger . As he remembered the deep , grumbly-rumbly laughter of Buster Bear , the feeling of shame grew . `` I deserve it , '' thought Old Mr. Toad . `` Yes , Sir , I deserve every bit of it . The only thing that I have to be proud of is that I 'm honest and work for my living . Yes , Sir , that 's all . '' When darkness came at last , and he crawled out to go home , he was feeling very humble . Peter Rabbit happened along just then .
Old Mr. Toad opened his mouth to speak , but Peter suddenly threw his head up very high and strutted past as if he did n't see Old Mr. XXXXX at all .
Bear Blacksnake Hills Rabbit Sir Sun Toad darkness first jolly