Rat tried not to think about the letter-sized, toad-green problem lying crinkled and creased in his pocket. 'You know that if you put these things off, they only become a bigger problem later.' 'The garden does need a trim, so maybe we should consider it,' he said. Eventually he seemed to rule in the former's favour, for he shrugged and collected up the rest of the post. Mole eyed Rat with the sort of look Rat was becoming accustomed to as Mole tried to decide whether he was being Riverbanker Odd or just Regular Odd. 'We get them every year no need to worry yourself about it, Moley.' 'Brochures advertising hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, shears, that sort of thing.' He pocketed it and wondered if the green dye would burn interestingly. 'Must be junk,' he assured as he deftly claimed the envelope. Rat was out of his chair faster than a minnow after flies. It arrived two days after the first in a significantly fancier envelope, and вЂ“ in hindsight вЂ“ that was probably an indicator of things yet to come. He gave the letter a final decisive fold and tucked it into a pocket, whereupon it mysteriously found its way into the river to be dissolved into obscurity upon the following boating trip. The second was that Rat's circumstances would certainly provide it (and Toad knew it), and the third was that Mole was many things, and an enabler was one of them. The first was that Toad was an insufferable busybody who needed constant entertainment like a fish needed water. Just a reminder for the swimming club's sports day next week.' Rat folded the letter again for good measure. 'A please wouldn't go amiss,' Rat muttered, and folded the letter in on itself. (Rat didn't wince as much as he used to at the childhood nickname, for reasons that were sitting in the corner reading a gardening magazine.)ДЄpparently, it continued, you have a new houseguest and you didn't see fit to tell your oldest friend?В (One question mark would have sufficed, Rat was sure.) Preposterous! I had to learn about it from my butler, of all animals! I insist we meet immediately! Drop by any time tomorrow.

The first one was a simple letter, delivered by post and almost entirely ordinary, save for the meticulously-scribed address that was certainly not Toad's handwriting, and the quality of the paper within.

The invitations started off inconspicuously enough, or as inconspicuous as Toad was capable of.

Ratty catty jelly