Unfortunately, he could hear nothing but the general chorus of their songs.
"Thought they'd gone," murmured Tod.
Malloring again got up.

"Look here, Freeland," he said, "I wish you'd give your mind to this.

You really ought not to let your wife and children make trouble in the village." Confound the fellow! He was smiling; there was a sort of twinkle in his smile, too, that Malloring found infectious! "No, seriously," he said, "you don't know what harm you mayn't do." "Have you ever watched a dog looking at a fire ?" asked Tod.
"Yes, often; why ?" "He knows better than to touch it." "You mean you're helpless?
But you oughtn't to be." The fellow was smiling again! "Then you don't mean to do anything ?" Tod shook his head.
Malloring flushed.

"Now, look here, Freeland," he said, "forgive my saying so, but this strikes me as a bit cynical.

D'you think I enjoy trying to keep things straight ?" Tod looked up.
"Birds," he said, "animals, insects, vegetable life--they all eat each other more or less, but they don't fuss about it." Malloring turned abruptly and went down the path.