`` I have ventured to invite another to enjoy the dinner with us , '' continued Buster Bear . Mr. Toad 's face fell . You see he was selfish . He wanted to be the only one to have the honor of dining with Buster Bear . `` He 's a little late , '' went on Buster , `` but I think he will be here soon , and I hope you will be glad to meet him . Ah , there he comes now ! '' Old Mr. Toad looked in the direction in which Buster Bear was looking . He gave a little gasp and turned quite pale . All his puffiness disappeared . He did n't look like the same Toad at all . The newcomer was Mr. Blacksnake . `` Oh ! '' cried Old Mr. Toad , and then , without even asking to be excused , he turned his back on Buster Bear and started back the way he had come , with long , frightened hops . `` Ha , ha , ha ! '' shouted Peter Rabbit , jumping out from behind a tree . `` Ho , ho , ho ! '' shouted Jimmy Skunk from behind another . `` Hee , hee , hee ! '' shouted Johnny Chuck from behind a third . Then Old Mr. Toad knew that his old friends and neighbors had planned this to teach him a lesson .
XXIII OLD MR. TOAD IS VERY HUMBLE When Old Mr. Toad saw Mr. Blacksnake and turned his back on Buster XXXXX and the fine dinner to which Buster had invited him , he had but just one idea in his head , and that was to get out of sight of Mr. Blacksnake as soon as possible .
Bear Blacksnake Buster Chuck Rabbit Skunk Toad ho puffiness third