Summary

In the idyllic, rural neighborhood of River Bank, two new residents have moved into the charming Sunshine Cottage: a young female rabbit named Lottie (who usually goes by Rabbit), and a slightly older female mole named Beryl (who does usually go by Beryl). They move in a tremendous amount of furniture and other belongings, much to the delight of the observant local neighbors, who did not appreciate that the house was so undecorated by the previous resident.

Two of the friendly bachelors who live in River Bank, Water Rat (a.k.a. Rat) and Mole paddle past the house in a canoe, with Mole disapproving of the two new neighbors. They see their third bachelor friend, Badger, and invite him over to Rat's house in order to eat the trout they have just caught. Badger agrees to come over, after he...