"I hope you don't want me to catch angleworms for you," Grandfather Mole told him. "The neighbors are always asking me to do that. And I've decided that[p. 108] I can't do it. Somehow I can't help eating 'em myself."
Billy Woodchuck assured him that he had no use at all for angleworms.
"What I want," he explained, "is a good digger to help dig a new house for me."
"Is anybody else going to help too?" Grandfather Mole inquired carefully.
"No—only myself!" Billy said.
"Then I'm sorry; but I can't work for you," Grandfather Mole announced. And he had already turned away, as if the business were ended, when Billy Woodchuck stopped him again.
"Perhaps"—said Billy—"perhaps I can find one or two others besides myself."
"You've missed my point," said Grandfather Mole. "I don't want anybody else to help—not even you! For I won't share the fun of digging with any one."
[p. 109]Well, Billy Woodchuck could hardly believe his own ears.
"You shall have things all your own way!" he cried. "I won't scratch a speck of dirt, I promise you!"