`Verywellthen!’continuedtheBadger。`BUT,whenoncetheyearhasreallyturned,andthenightsareshorter,andhalfwaythroughthemonerousesandfeelsfidgetyandwantingtobeupanddoingbysunrise,ifnotbefore——YOUknow!————’
Bothanimalsnoddedgravely。THEYknew!
`Well,THEN,’wentontheBadger,`we——thatis,youandmeandourfriendtheMolehere——we’lltakeToadseriouslyinhand。
We’llstandnononsensewhatever。We’llbringhimbacktoreason,byforceifneedbe。We’llMAKEhimbeasensibleToad。We’ll——you’reasleep,Rat!’
`Notme!’saidtheRat,wakingupwithajerk。
`He’sbeenasleeptwoorthreetimessincesupper,’saidtheMole,laughing。Hehimselfwasfeelingquitewakefulandevenlively,thoughhedidn’tknowwhy。Thereasonwas,ofcourse,thathebeingnaturallyanundergroundanimalbybirthandbreeding,thesituationofBadger’shouseexactlysuitedhimandmadehimfeelathome;whiletheRat,whoslepteverynightinabedroomthewindowsofwhichopenedonabreezyriver,naturallyfelttheatmospherestillandoppressive。
`Well,it’stimewewereallinbed,’saidtheBadger,gettingupandfetchingflatcandlesticks。`Comealong,youtwo,andI’llshowyouyourquarters。Andtakeyourtimetomorrowmorning——
breakfastatanyhouryouplease!’
Heconductedthetwoanimalstoalongroomthatseemedhalfbedchamberandhalfloft。TheBadger’swinterstores,whichindeedwerevisibleeverywhere,tookuphalftheroom——pilesofapples,turnips,andpotatoes,basketsfullofnuts,andjarsofhoney;butthetwolittlewhitebedsontheremainderofthefloorlookedsoftandinviting,andthelinenonthem,thoughcoarse,wascleanandsmeltbeautifullyoflavender;andtheMoleandtheWaterRat,shakingofftheirgarmentsinsomethirtyseconds,tumbledinbetweenthesheetsingreatjoyandcontentment。
InaccordancewiththekindlyBadger’sinjunctions,thetwotiredanimalscamedowntobreakfastverylatenextmorning,andfoundabrightfireburninginthekitchen,andtwoyounghedgehogssittingonabenchatthetable,eatingoatmealporridgeoutofwoodenbowls。Thehedgehogsdroppedtheirspoons,rosetotheirfeet,andduckedtheirheadsrespectfullyasthetwoentered。
`There,sitdown,sitdown,’saidtheRatpleasantly,`andgoonwithyourporridge。Wherehaveyouyoungsterscomefrom?Lostyourwayinthesnow,Isuppose?’
`Yes,please,sir,’saidtheelderofthetwohedgehogsrespectfully。`MeandlittleBillyhere,wewastryingtofindourwaytoschool——motherWOULDhaveusgo,wastheweathereverso——andofcoursewelostourselves,sir,andBillyhegotfrightenedandtookandcried,beingyoungandfaint-
hearted。AndatlastwehappenedupagainstMr。Badger’sbackdoor,andmadesoboldastoknock,sir,forMr。Badgerhe’sakind-heartedgentleman,aseveryoneknows————’
`Iunderstand,’saidtheRat,cuttinghimselfsomerashersfromasideofbacon,whiletheMoledroppedsomeeggsintoasaucepan。
`Andwhat’stheweatherlikeoutside?Youneedn’t\"sir\"mequitesomuch?’headded。
`O,terriblebad,sir,terribledeepthesnowis,’saidthehedgehog。`Nogettingoutforthelikesofyougentlemento-
day。’
`Where’sMr。Badger?’inquiredtheMole,ashewarmedthecoffee-
potbeforethefire。
`Themaster’sgoneintohisstudy,sir,’repliedthehedgehog,`andhesaidashowhewasgoingtobeparticularbusythismorning,andonnoaccountwashetobedisturbed。’
Thisexplanation,ofcourse,wasthoroughlyunderstoodbyeveryonepresent。Thefactis,asalreadysetforth,whenyoulivealifeofintenseactivityforsixmonthsintheyear,andofcomparativeoractualsomnolencefortheothersix,duringthelatterperiodyoucannotbecontinuallypleadingsleepinesswhentherearepeopleaboutorthingstobedone。Theexcusegetsmonotonous。TheanimalswellknewthatBadger,havingeatenaheartybreakfast,hadretiredtohisstudyandsettledhimselfinanarm-chairwithhislegsuponanotherandaredcottonhandkerchiefoverhisface,andwasbeing`busy’intheusualwayatthistimeoftheyear。
Thefront-doorbellclangedloudly,andtheRat,whowasverygreasywithbutteredtoast,sentBilly,thesmallerhedgehog,toseewhoitmightbe。Therewasasoundofmuchstampinginthehall,andpresentlyBillyreturnedinfrontoftheOtter,whothrewhimselfontheRatwithanembraceandashoutofaffectionategreeting。
`Getoff!’splutteredtheRat,withhismouthfull。
`ThoughtIshouldfindyouhereallright,’saidtheOttercheerfully。`TheywereallinagreatstateofalarmalongRiverBankwhenIarrivedthismorning。Ratneverbeenhomeallnight——norMoleeither——somethingdreadfulmusthavehappened,theysaid;andthesnowhadcoveredupallyourtracks,ofcourse。ButIknewthatwhenpeoplewereinanyfixtheymostlywenttoBadger,orelseBadgergottoknowofitsomehow,soIcamestraightoffhere,throughtheWildWoodandthesnow!
My!itwasfine,comingthroughthesnowastheredsunwasrisingandshowingagainsttheblacktree-trunks!Asyouwentalonginthestillness,everynowandthenmassesofsnowslidoffthebranchessuddenlywithaflop!makingyoujumpandrunforcover。Snow-castlesandsnow-cavernshadsprungupoutofnowhereinthenight——andsnowbridges,terraces,ramparts——I
couldhavestayedandplayedwiththemforhours。Hereandtheregreatbrancheshadbeentornawaybythesheerweightofthesnow,androbinsperchedandhoppedonthemintheirperkyconceitedway,justasiftheyhaddoneitthemselves。Araggedstringofwildgeesepassedoverhead,highonthegreysky,andafewrookswhirledoverthetrees,inspected,andflappedoffhomewardswithadisgustedexpression;butImetnosensiblebeingtoaskthenewsof。AbouthalfwayacrossIcameonarabbitsittingonastump,cleaninghissillyfacewithhispaws。HewasaprettyscaredanimalwhenIcreptupbehindhimandplacedaheavyforepawonhisshoulder。Ihadtocuffhisheadonceortwicetogetanysenseoutofitatall。AtlastI
managedtoextractfromhimthatMolehadbeenseenintheWildWoodlastnightbyoneofthem。Itwasthetalkoftheburrows,hesaid,howMole,Mr。Rat’sparticularfriend,wasinabadfix;
howhehadlosthisway,and\"They\"wereupandouthunting,andwerechivvyinghimroundandround。\"Thenwhydidn’tanyofyouDOsomething?\"Iasked。\"Youmayn’tbeblestwithbrains,buttherearehundredsandhundredsofyou,big,stoutfellows,asfatasbutter,andyourburrowsrunninginalldirections,andyoucouldhavetakenhiminandmadehimsafeandcomfortable,ortriedto,atallevents。\"\"What,US?\"hemerelysaid:\"DO
something?usrabbits?\"SoIcuffedhimagainandlefthim。
Therewasnothingelsetobedone。Atanyrate,Ihadlearntsomething;andifIhadhadthelucktomeetanyof\"Them\"I’dhavelearntsomethingmore——orTHEYwould。’
`Weren’tyouatall——er——nervous?’askedtheMole,someofyesterday’sterrorcomingbacktohimatthementionoftheWildWood。
`Nervous?’TheOttershowedagleamingsetofstrongwhiteteethashelaughed。`I’dgive’emnervesifanyofthemtriedanythingonwithme。Here,Mole,frymesomeslicesofham,likethegoodlittlechapyouare。I’mfrightfullyhungry,andI’vegotanyamounttosaytoRattyhere。Haven’tseenhimforanage。’
Sothegood-naturedMole,havingcutsomeslicesofham,setthehedgehogstofryit,andreturnedtohisownbreakfast,whiletheOtterandtheRat,theirheadstogether,eagerlytalkedriver-
shop,whichislongshopandtalkthatisendless,runningonlikethebabblingriveritself。
Aplateoffriedhamhadjustbeenclearedandsentbackformore,whentheBadgerentered,yawningandrubbinghiseyes,andgreetedthemallinhisquiet,simpleway,withkindenquiriesforeveryone。`Itmustbegettingonforluncheontime,’heremarkedtotheOtter。`Betterstopandhaveitwithus。Youmustbehungry,thiscoldmorning。’
`Rather!’repliedtheOtter,winkingattheMole。`Thesightofthesegreedyyounghedgehogsstuffingthemselveswithfriedhammakesmefeelpositivelyfamished。’
Thehedgehogs,whowerejustbeginningtofeelhungryagainaftertheirporridge,andafterworkingsohardattheirfrying,lookedtimidlyupatMr。Badger,butweretooshytosayanything。
`Here,youtwoyoungstersbeoffhometoyourmother,’saidtheBadgerkindly。`I’llsendsomeonewithyoutoshowyoutheway。
Youwon’twantanydinnerto-day,I’llbebound。’
Hegavethemsixpenceapieceandapatonthehead,andtheywentoffwithmuchrespectfulswingingofcapsandtouchingofforelocks。
Presentlytheyallsatdowntoluncheontogether。TheMolefoundhimselfplacednexttoMr。Badger,and,astheothertwowerestilldeepinriver-gossipfromwhichnothingcoulddivertthem,hetooktheopportunitytotellBadgerhowcomfortableandhome-
likeitallfelttohim。`Oncewellunderground,’hesaid,`youknowexactlywhereyouare。Nothingcanhappentoyou,andnothingcangetatyou。You’reentirelyyourownmaster,andyoudon’thavetoconsultanybodyormindwhattheysay。Thingsgoonallthesameoverhead,andyoulet’em,anddon’tbotherabout’em。Whenyouwantto,upyougo,andtherethethingsare,waitingforyou。’
TheBadgersimplybeamedonhim。`That’sexactlywhatIsay,’hereplied。`There’snosecurity,orpeaceandtranquillity,exceptunderground。Andthen,ifyourideasgetlargerandyouwanttoexpand——why,adigandascrape,andthereyouare!Ifyoufeelyourhouseisabittoobig,youstopupaholeortwo,andthereyouareagain!Nobuilders,notradesmen,noremarkspassedonyoubyfellowslookingoveryourwall,and,aboveall,noWEATHER。LookatRat,now。Acoupleoffeetoffloodwater,andhe’sgottomoveintohiredlodgings;uncomfortable,inconvenientlysituated,andhorriblyexpensive。TakeToad。I
saynothingagainstToadHall;quitethebesthouseintheseparts,ASahouse。Butsupposingafirebreaksout——where’sToad?Supposingtilesareblownoff,orwallssinkorcrack,orwindowsgetbroken——where’sToad?Supposingtheroomsaredraughty——IHATEadraughtmyself——where’sToad?No,upandoutofdoorsisgoodenoughtoroamaboutandgetone’slivingin;butundergroundtocomebacktoatlast——that’smyideaofHOME’
TheMoleassentedheartily;andtheBadgerinconsequencegotveryfriendlywithhim。`Whenlunchisover,’hesaid,`I’lltakeyouallroundthislittleplaceofmine。Icanseeyou’llappreciateit。Youunderstandwhatdomesticarchitectureoughttobe,youdo。’
Afterluncheon,accordingly,whentheothertwohadsettledthemselvesintothechimney-cornerandhadstartedaheatedargumentonthesubjectofEELS,theBadgerlightedalanternandbadetheMolefollowhim。Crossingthehall,theypasseddownoneoftheprincipaltunnels,andthewaveringlightofthelanterngaveglimpsesoneithersideofroomsbothlargeandsmall,somemerecupboards,othersnearlyasbroadandimposingasToad’sdining-hall。Anarrowpassageatrightanglesledthemintoanothercorridor,andherethesamethingwasrepeated。TheMolewasstaggeredatthesize,theextent,theramificationsofitall;atthelengthofthedimpassages,thesolidvaultingsofthecrammedstore-chambers,themasonryeverywhere,thepillars,thearches,thepavements。`Howonearth,Badger,’hesaidatlast,`didyoueverfindtimeandstrengthtodoallthis?It’sastonishing!’
`ItWOULDbeastonishingindeed,’saidtheBadgersimply,`ifIHADdoneit。ButasamatteroffactIdidnoneofit——onlycleanedoutthepassagesandchambers,asfarasIhadneedofthem。There’slotsmoreofit,allroundabout。Iseeyoudon’tunderstand,andImustexplainittoyou。Well,verylongago,onthespotwheretheWildWoodwavesnow,beforeeverithadplanteditselfandgrownuptowhatitnowis,therewasacity——
acityofpeople,youknow。Here,wherewearestanding,theylived,andwalked,andtalked,andslept,andcarriedontheirbusiness。Heretheystabledtheirhorsesandfeasted,fromheretheyrodeouttofightordroveouttotrade。Theywereapowerfulpeople,andrich,andgreatbuilders。Theybuilttolast,fortheythoughttheircitywouldlastforever。’
`Butwhathasbecomeofthemall?’askedtheMole。
`Whocantell?’saidtheBadger。`Peoplecome——theystayforawhile,theyflourish,theybuild——andtheygo。Itistheirway。Butweremain。Therewerebadgershere,I’vebeentold,longbeforethatsamecityevercametobe。Andnowtherearebadgershereagain。Weareanenduringlot,andwemaymoveoutforatime,butwewait,andarepatient,andbackwecome。Andsoitwilleverbe。’
`Well,andwhentheywentatlast,thosepeople?’saidtheMole。
`Whentheywent,’continuedtheBadger,`thestrongwindsandpersistentrainstookthematterinhand,patiently,ceaselessly,yearafteryear。Perhapswebadgerstoo,inoursmallway,helpedalittle——whoknows?Itwasalldown,down,down,gradually——ruinandlevellinganddisappearance。Thenitwasallup,up,up,gradually,asseedsgrewtosaplings,andsaplingstoforesttrees,andbrambleandferncamecreepingintohelp。
Leaf-mouldroseandobliterated,streamsintheirwinterfreshetsbroughtsandandsoiltoclogandtocover,andincourseoftimeourhomewasreadyforusagain,andwemovedin。Upaboveus,onthesurface,thesamethinghappened。Animalsarrived,likedthelookoftheplace,tookuptheirquarters,settleddown,spread,andflourished。Theydidn’tbotherthemselvesaboutthepast——theyneverdo;they’retoobusy。Theplacewasabithumpyandhillocky,naturally,andfullofholes;butthatwasratheranadvantage。Andtheydon’tbotheraboutthefuture,either——
thefuturewhenperhapsthepeoplewillmoveinagain——foratime——asmayverywellbe。TheWildWoodisprettywellpopulatedbynow;withalltheusuallot,good,bad,andindifferent——Inamenonames。Ittakesallsortstomakeaworld。ButIfancyyouknowsomethingaboutthemyourselfbythistime。’
`Idoindeed,’saidtheMole,withaslightshiver。
`Well,well,’saidtheBadger,pattinghimontheshoulder,`itwasyourfirstexperienceofthem,yousee。They’renotsobadreally;andwemustallliveandletlive。ButI’llpassthewordaroundto-morrow,andIthinkyou’llhavenofurthertrouble。AnyfriendofMINEwalkswherehelikesinthiscountry,orI’llknowthereasonwhy!’
Whentheygotbacktothekitchenagain,theyfoundtheRatwalkingupanddown,veryrestless。Theundergroundatmospherewasoppressinghimandgettingonhisnerves,andheseemedreallytobeafraidthattheriverwouldrunawayifhewasn’ttheretolookafterit。Sohehadhisovercoaton,andhispistolsthrustintohisbeltagain。`Comealong,Mole,’hesaidanxiously,assoonashecaughtsightofthem。`Wemustgetoffwhileit’sdaylight。Don’twanttospendanothernightintheWildWoodagain。’
`It’llbeallright,myfinefellow,’saidtheOtter。`I’mcomingalongwithyou,andIknoweverypathblindfold;andifthere’saheadthatneedstobepunched,youcanconfidentlyrelyuponmetopunchit。’
`Youreallyneedn’tfret,Ratty,’addedtheBadgerplacidly。`Mypassagesrunfurtherthanyouthink,andI’vebolt-holestotheedgeofthewoodinseveraldirections,thoughIdon’tcareforeverybodytoknowaboutthem。Whenyoureallyhavetogo,youshallleavebyoneofmyshortcuts。Meantime,makeyourselfeasy,andsitdownagain。’
TheRatwasneverthelessstillanxioustobeoffandattendtohisriver,sotheBadger,takinguphislanternagain,ledthewayalongadampandairlesstunnelthatwoundanddipped,partvaulted,parthewnthroughsolidrock,forawearydistancethatseemedtobemiles。Atlastdaylightbegantoshowitselfconfusedlythroughtangledgrowthoverhangingthemouthofthepassage;andtheBadger,biddingthemahastygood-bye,pushedthemhurriedlythroughtheopening,madeeverythinglookasnaturalaspossibleagain,withcreepers,brushwood,anddeadleaves,andretreated。
TheyfoundthemselvesstandingontheveryedgeoftheWildWood。
Rocksandbramblesandtree-rootsbehindthem,confusedlyheapedandtangled;infront,agreatspaceofquietfields,hemmedbylinesofhedgesblackonthesnow,and,farahead,aglintofthefamiliaroldriver,whilethewintrysunhungredandlowonthehorizon。TheOtter,asknowingallthepaths,tookchargeoftheparty,andtheytrailedoutonabee-lineforadistantstile。
Pausingthereamomentandlookingback,theysawthewholemassoftheWildWood,dense,menacing,compact,grimlysetinvastwhitesurroundings;simultaneouslytheyturnedandmadeswiftlyforhome,forfirelightandthefamiliarthingsitplayedon,forthevoice,soundingcheerilyoutsidetheirwindow,oftheriverthattheyknewandtrustedinallitsmoods,thatnevermadethemafraidwithanyamazement。
Ashehurriedalong,eagerlyanticipatingthemomentwhenhewouldbeathomeagainamongthethingsheknewandliked,theMolesawclearlythathewasananimaloftilledfieldandhedge-
row,linkedtotheploughedfurrow,thefrequentedpasture,thelaneofeveninglingerings,thecultivatedgarden-plot。Forotherstheasperities,thestubbornendurance,ortheclashofactualconflict,thatwentwithNatureintherough;hemustbewise,mustkeeptothepleasantplacesinwhichhislineswerelaidandwhichheldadventureenough,intheirway,tolastforalifetime。
V
DULCEDOMUM
Thesheepranhuddlingtogetheragainstthehurdles,blowingoutthinnostrilsandstampingwithdelicatefore-feet,theirheadsthrownbackandalightsteamrisingfromthecrowdedsheep-penintothefrostyair,asthetwoanimalshastenedbyinhighspirits,withmuchchatterandlaughter。Theywerereturningacrosscountryafteralongday’soutingwithOtter,huntingandexploringonthewideuplandswherecertainstreamstributarytotheirownRiverhadtheirfirstsmallbeginnings;andtheshadesoftheshortwinterdaywereclosinginonthem,andtheyhadstillsomedistancetogo。Ploddingatrandomacrosstheplough,theyhadheardthesheepandhadmadeforthem;andnow,leadingfromthesheep-pen,theyfoundabeatentrackthatmadewalkingalighterbusiness,andresponded,moreover,tothatsmallinquiringsomethingwhichallanimalscarryinsidethem,sayingunmistakably,`Yes,quiteright;THISleadshome!’
`Itlooksasifwewerecomingtoavillage,’saidtheMolesomewhatdubiously,slackeninghispace,asthetrack,thathadintimebecomeapathandthenhaddevelopedintoalane,nowhandedthemovertothechargeofawell-metalledroad。Theanimalsdidnotholdwithvillages,andtheirownhighways,thicklyfrequentedastheywere,tookanindependentcourse,regardlessofchurch,postoffice,orpublic-house。
`Oh,nevermind!’saidtheRat。`Atthisseasonoftheyearthey’reallsafeindoorsbythistime,sittingroundthefire;
men,women,andchildren,dogsandcatsandall。Weshallslipthroughallright,withoutanybotherorunpleasantness,andwecanhavealookatthemthroughtheirwindowsifyoulike,andseewhatthey’redoing。’
Therapidnightfallofmid-Decemberhadquitebesetthelittlevillageastheyapproacheditonsoftfeetoverafirstthinfallofpowderysnow。Littlewasvisiblebutsquaresofaduskyorange-redoneithersideofthestreet,wherethefirelightorlamplightofeachcottageoverflowedthroughthecasementsintothedarkworldwithout。Mostofthelowlatticedwindowswereinnocentofblinds,andtothelookers-infromoutside,theinmates,gatheredroundthetea-table,absorbedinhandiwork,ortalkingwithlaughterandgesture,hadeachthathappygracewhichisthelastthingtheskilledactorshallcapture——thenaturalgracewhichgoeswithperfectunconsciousnessofobservation。Movingatwillfromonetheatretoanother,thetwospectators,sofarfromhomethemselves,hadsomethingofwistfulnessintheireyesastheywatchedacatbeingstroked,asleepychildpickedupandhuddledofftobed,oratiredmanstretchandknockouthispipeontheendofasmoulderinglog。
Butitwasfromonelittlewindow,withitsblinddrawndown,amereblanktransparencyonthenight,thatthesenseofhomeandthelittlecurtainedworldwithinwalls——thelargerstressfulworldofoutsideNatureshutoutandforgotten——mostpulsated。
Closeagainstthewhiteblindhungabird-cage,clearlysilhouetted,everywire,perch,andappurtenancedistinctandrecognisable,eventoyesterday’sdull-edgedlumpofsugar。Onthemiddleperchthefluffyoccupant,headtuckedwellintofeathers,seemedsoneartothemastobeeasilystroked,hadtheytried;eventhedelicatetipsofhisplumped-outplumagepencilledplainlyontheilluminatedscreen。Astheylooked,thesleepylittlefellowstirreduneasily,woke,shookhimself,andraisedhishead。Theycouldseethegapeofhistinybeakasheyawnedinaboredsortofway,lookedround,andthensettledhisheadintohisbackagain,whiletheruffledfeathersgraduallysubsidedintoperfectstillness。Thenagustofbitterwindtooktheminthebackoftheneck,asmallstingoffrozensleetontheskinwokethemasfromadream,andtheyknewtheirtoestobecoldandtheirlegstired,andtheirownhomedistantawearyway。
Oncebeyondthevillage,wherethecottagesceasedabruptly,oneithersideoftheroadtheycouldsmellthroughthedarknessthefriendlyfieldsagain;andtheybracedthemselvesforthelastlongstretch,thehomestretch,thestretchthatweknowisboundtoend,sometime,intherattleofthedoor-latch,thesuddenfirelight,andthesightoffamiliarthingsgreetingusaslong-absenttravellersfromfarover-sea。Theyploddedalongsteadilyandsilently,eachofthemthinkinghisownthoughts。
TheMole’sranagooddealonsupper,asitwaspitch-dark,anditwasallastrangecountryforhimasfarasheknew,andhewasfollowingobedientlyinthewakeoftheRat,leavingtheguidanceentirelytohim。AsfortheRat,hewaswalkingalittlewayahead,ashishabitwas,hisshouldershumped,hiseyesfixedonthestraightgreyroadinfrontofhim;sohedidnotnoticepoorMolewhensuddenlythesummonsreachedhim,andtookhimlikeanelectricshock。
Weothers,whohavelonglostthemoresubtleofthephysicalsenses,havenotevenpropertermstoexpressananimal’sinter-
communicationswithhissurroundings,livingorotherwise,andhaveonlytheword`smell,’forinstance,toincludethewholerangeofdelicatethrillswhichmurmurinthenoseoftheanimalnightandday,summoning,warning?inciting,repelling。ItwasoneofthesemysteriousfairycallsfromoutthevoidthatsuddenlyreachedMoleinthedarkness,makinghimtinglethroughandthroughwithitsveryfamiliarappeal,evenwhileyethecouldnotclearlyrememberwhatitwas。Hestoppeddeadinhistracks,hisnosesearchinghitherandthitherinitseffortstorecapturethefinefilament,thetelegraphiccurrent,thathadsostronglymovedhim。Amoment,andhehadcaughtitagain;andwithitthistimecamerecollectioninfullestflood。
Home!Thatwaswhattheymeant,thosecaressingappeals,thosesofttoucheswaftedthroughtheair,thoseinvisiblelittlehandspullingandtugging,alloneway!Why,itmustbequiteclosebyhimatthatmoment,hisoldhomethathehadhurriedlyforsakenandneversoughtagain,thatdaywhenhefirstfoundtheriver!
Andnowitwassendingoutitsscoutsanditsmessengerstocapturehimandbringhimin。Sincehisescapeonthatbrightmorninghehadhardlygivenitathought,soabsorbedhadhebeeninhisnewlife,inallitspleasures,itssurprises,itsfreshandcaptivatingexperiences。Now,witharushofoldmemories,howclearlyitstoodupbeforehim,inthedarkness!Shabbyindeed,andsmallandpoorlyfurnished,andyethis,thehomehehadmadeforhimself,thehomehehadbeensohappytogetbacktoafterhisday’swork。Andthehomehadbeenhappywithhim,too,evidently,andwasmissinghim,andwantedhimback,andwastellinghimso,throughhisnose,sorrowfully,reproachfully,butwithnobitternessoranger;onlywithplaintivereminderthatitwasthere,andwantedhim。
Thecallwasclear,thesummonswasplain。Hemustobeyitinstantly,andgo。`Ratty!’hecalled,fullofjoyfulexcitement,`holdon!Comeback!Iwantyou,quick!’
`Oh,COMEalong,Mole,do!’repliedtheRatcheerfully,stillploddingalong。
`PLEASEstop,Ratty!’pleadedthepoorMole,inanguishofheart。`Youdon’tunderstand!It’smyhome,myoldhome!I’vejustcomeacrossthesmellofit,andit’sclosebyhere,reallyquiteclose。AndIMUSTgotoit,Imust,Imust!Oh,comeback,Ratty!Please,pleasecomeback!’
TheRatwasbythistimeveryfarahead,toofartohearclearlywhattheMolewascalling,toofartocatchthesharpnoteofpainfulappealinhisvoice。Andhewasmuchtakenupwiththeweather,forhetoocouldsmellsomething——somethingsuspiciouslylikeapproachingsnow。
`Mole,wemustn’tstopnow,really!’hecalledback。`We’llcomeforitto-morrow,whateveritisyou’vefound。ButI
daren’tstopnow——it’slate,andthesnow’scomingonagain,andI’mnotsureoftheway!AndIwantyournose,Mole,socomeonquick,there’sagoodfellow!’AndtheRatpressedforwardonhiswaywithoutwaitingforananswer。
PoorMolestoodaloneintheroad,hishearttornasunder,andabigsobgathering,gathering,somewherelowdowninsidehim,toleapuptothesurfacepresently,heknew,inpassionateescape。
Butevenundersuchatestasthishisloyaltytohisfriendstoodfirm。Neverforamomentdidhedreamofabandoninghim。
Meanwhile,thewaftsfromhisoldhomepleaded,whispered,conjured,andfinallyclaimedhimimperiously。Hedarednottarrylongerwithintheirmagiccircle。WithawrenchthattorehisveryheartstringshesethisfacedowntheroadandfollowedsubmissivelyinthetrackoftheRat,whilefaint,thinlittlesmells,stilldogginghisretreatingnose,reproachedhimforhisnewfriendshipandhiscallousforgetfulness。
WithanefforthecaughtuptotheunsuspectingRat,whobeganchatteringcheerfullyaboutwhattheywoulddowhentheygotback,andhowjollyafireoflogsintheparlourwouldbe,andwhatasupperhemeanttoeat;nevernoticinghiscompanion’ssilenceanddistressfulstateofmind。Atlast,however,whentheyhadgonesomeconsiderablewayfurther,andwerepassingsometree-stumpsattheedgeofacopsethatborderedtheroad,hestoppedandsaidkindly,`Lookhere,Moleoldchap,youseemdeadtired。Notalkleftinyou,andyourfeetdragginglikelead。We’llsitdownhereforaminuteandrest。Thesnowhasheldoffsofar,andthebestpartofourjourneyisover。’
TheMolesubsidedforlornlyonatree-stumpandtriedtocontrolhimself,forhefeltitsurelycoming。Thesobhehadfoughtwithsolongrefusedtobebeaten。Upandup,itforceditswaytotheair,andthenanother,andanother,andothersthickandfast;tillpoorMoleatlastgaveupthestruggle,andcriedfreelyandhelplesslyandopenly,nowthatheknewitwasalloverandhehadlostwhathecouldhardlybesaidtohavefound。
TheRat,astonishedanddismayedattheviolenceofMole’sparoxysmofgrief,didnotdaretospeakforawhile。Atlasthesaid,veryquietlyandsympathetically,`Whatisit,oldfellow?Whatevercanbethematter?Tellusyourtrouble,andletmeseewhatIcando。’
PoorMolefounditdifficulttogetanywordsoutbetweentheupheavalsofhischestthatfollowedoneuponanothersoquicklyandheldbackspeechandchokeditasitcame。`Iknowit’sa——
shabby,dingylittleplace,’hesobbedforthatlast,brokenly:
`notlike——yourcosyquarters——orToad’sbeautifulhall——orBadger’sgreathouse——butitwasmyownlittlehome——andIwasfondofit——andIwentawayandforgotallaboutit——andthenI
smeltitsuddenly——ontheroad,whenIcalledandyouwouldn’tlisten,Rat——andeverythingcamebacktomewitharush——andI
WANTEDit!——Odear,Odear!——andwhenyouWOULDN’Tturnback,Ratty——andIhadtoleaveit,thoughIwassmellingitallthetime——Ithoughtmyheartwouldbreak。——Wemighthavejustgoneandhadonelookatit,Ratty——onlyonelook——itwascloseby——butyouwouldn’tturnback,Ratty,youwouldn’tturnback!O
dear,Odear!’
Recollectionbroughtfreshwavesofsorrow,andsobsagaintookfullchargeofhim,preventingfurtherspeech。
TheRatstaredstraightinfrontofhim,sayingnothing,onlypattingMolegentlyontheshoulder。Afteratimehemutteredgloomily,`Iseeitallnow!WhataPIGIhavebeen!Apig——
that’sme!Justapig——aplainpig!’
HewaitedtillMole’ssobsbecamegraduallylessstormyandmorerhythmical;hewaitedtillatlastsniffswerefrequentandsobsonlyintermittent。Thenherosefromhisseat,and,remarkingcarelessly,`Well,nowwe’dreallybetterbegettingon,oldchap!’setoffuptheroadagain,overthetoilsomewaytheyhadcome。
`Whereverareyou(hic)goingto(hic),Ratty?’criedthetearfulMole,lookingupinalarm。
`We’regoingtofindthathomeofyours,oldfellow,’repliedtheRatpleasantly;`soyouhadbettercomealong,foritwilltakesomefinding,andweshallwantyournose。’
`Oh,comeback,Ratty,do!’criedtheMole,gettingupandhurryingafterhim。`It’snogood,Itellyou!It’stoolate,andtoodark,andtheplaceistoofaroff,andthesnow’scoming!And——andInevermeanttoletyouknowIwasfeelingthatwayaboutit——itwasallanaccidentandamistake!AndthinkofRiverBank,andyoursupper!’
`HangRiverBank,andsuppertoo!’saidtheRatheartily。`I
tellyou,I’mgoingtofindthisplacenow,ifIstayoutallnight。Socheerup,oldchap,andtakemyarm,andwe’llverysoonbebackthereagain。’
Stillsnuffling,pleading,andreluctant,Molesufferedhimselftobedraggedbackalongtheroadbyhisimperiouscompanion,whobyaflowofcheerfultalkandanecdoteendeavouredtobeguilehisspiritsbackandmakethewearywayseemshorter。WhenatlastitseemedtotheRatthattheymustbenearingthatpartoftheroadwheretheMolehadbeen`heldup,’hesaid,`Now,nomoretalking。Business!Useyournose,andgiveyourmindtoit。’
Theymovedoninsilenceforsomelittleway,whensuddenlytheRatwasconscious,throughhisarmthatwaslinkedinMole’s,ofafaintsortofelectricthrillthatwaspassingdownthatanimal’sbody。Instantlyhedisengagedhimself,fellbackapace,andwaited,allattention。
Thesignalswerecomingthrough!
Molestoodamomentrigid,whilehisupliftednose,quiveringslightly,felttheair。
Thenashort,quickrunforward——afault——acheck——atryback;
andthenaslow,steady,confidentadvance。
TheRat,muchexcited,keptclosetohisheelsastheMole,withsomethingoftheairofasleep-walker,crossedadryditch,scrambledthroughahedge,andnosedhiswayoverafieldopenandtracklessandbareinthefaintstarlight。
Suddenly,withoutgivingwarning,hedived;buttheRatwasonthealert,andpromptlyfollowedhimdownthetunneltowhichhisunerringnosehadfaithfullyledhim。
Itwascloseandairless,andtheearthysmellwasstrong,anditseemedalongtimetoRaterethepassageendedandhecouldstanderectandstretchandshakehimself。TheMolestruckamatch,andbyitslighttheRatsawthattheywerestandinginanopenspace,neatlysweptandsandedunderfoot,anddirectlyfacingthemwasMole’slittlefrontdoor,with`MoleEnd’
painted,inGothiclettering,overthebell-pullattheside。
Molereacheddownalanternfromanailonthewailandlitit,andtheRat,lookingroundhim,sawthattheywereinasortoffore-court。Agarden-seatstoodononesideofthedoor,andontheotheraroller;fortheMole,whowasatidyanimalwhenathome,couldnotstandhavinghisgroundkickedupbyotheranimalsintolittlerunsthatendedinearth-heaps。Onthewallshungwirebasketswithfernsinthem,alternatingwithbracketscarryingplasterstatuary——Garibaldi,andtheinfantSamuel,andQueenVictoria,andotherheroesofmodernItaly。Downononesideoftheforecourtranaskittle-alley,withbenchesalongitandlittlewoodentablesmarkedwithringsthathintedatbeer-
mugs。Inthemiddlewasasmallroundpondcontaininggold-fishandsurroundedbyacockle-shellborder。Outofthecentreofthepondroseafancifulerectionclothedinmorecockle-shellsandtoppedbyalargesilveredglassballthatreflectedeverythingallwrongandhadaverypleasingeffect。
Mole’sface-beamedatthesightofalltheseobjectssodeartohim,andhehurriedRatthroughthedoor,litalampinthehall,andtookoneglanceroundhisoldhome。Hesawthedustlyingthickoneverything,sawthecheerless,desertedlookofthelong-neglectedhouse,anditsnarrow,meagredimensions,itswornandshabbycontents——andcollapsedagainonahall-chair,hisnosetohispaws。`ORatty!’hecrieddismally,`whyeverdidIdoit?WhydidIbringyoutothispoor,coldlittleplace,onanightlikethis,whenyoumighthavebeenatRiverBankbythistime,toastingyourtoesbeforeablazingfire,withallyourownnicethingsaboutyou!’
TheRatpaidnoheedtohisdolefulself-reproaches。Hewasrunninghereandthere,openingdoors,inspectingroomsandcupboards,andlightinglampsandcandlesandstickingthem,upeverywhere。`Whatacapitallittlehousethisis!’hecalledoutcheerily。`Socompact!Sowellplanned!Everythinghereandeverythinginitsplace!We’llmakeajollynightofit。Thefirstthingwewantisagoodfire;I’llseetothat——Ialwaysknowwheretofindthings。Sothisistheparlour?Splendid!
Yourownidea,thoselittlesleeping-bunksinthewall?Capital!
Now,I’llfetchthewoodandthecoals,andyougetaduster,Mole——you’llfindoneinthedrawerofthekitchentable——andtryandsmartenthingsupabit。Bustleabout,oldchap!’
Encouragedbyhisinspiritingcompanion,theMolerousedhimselfanddustedandpolishedwithenergyandheartiness,whiletheRat,runningtoandfrowitharmfulsoffuel,soonhadacheerfulblazeroaringupthechimney。HehailedtheMoletocomeandwarmhimself;butMolepromptlyhadanotherfitoftheblues,droppingdownonacouchindarkdespairandburyinghisfaceinhisduster。`Rat,’hemoaned,`howaboutyoursupper,youpoor,cold,hungry,wearyanimal?I’venothingtogiveyou——nothing——
notacrumb!’
`Whatafellowyouareforgivingin!’saidtheRatreproachfully。`Why,onlyjustnowIsawasardine-openeronthekitchendresser,quitedistinctly;andeverybodyknowsthatmeanstherearesardinesaboutsomewhereintheneighbourhood。Rouseyourself!pullyourselftogether,andcomewithmeandforage。’
Theywentandforagedaccordingly,huntingthrougheverycupboardandturningouteverydrawer。Theresultwasnotsoverydepressingafterall,thoughofcourseitmighthavebeenbetter;atinofsardines——aboxofcaptain’sbiscuits,nearlyfull——andaGermansausageencasedinsilverpaper。
`There’sabanquetforyou!’observedtheRat,ashearrangedthetable。`Iknowsomeanimalswhowouldgivetheirearstobesittingdowntosupperwithusto-night!’
`Nobread!’groanedtheMoledolorously;`nobutter,no————’
`Nopatedefoiegras,nochampagne!’continuedtheRat,grinning。`Andthatremindsme——what’sthatlittledoorattheendofthepassage?Yourcellar,ofcourse!Everyluxuryinthishouse!Justyouwaitaminute。’
Hemadeforthecellar-door,andpresentlyreappeared,somewhatdusty,withabottleofbeerineachpawandanotherundereacharm,`Self-indulgentbeggaryouseemtobe,Mole,’heobserved。
`Denyyourselfnothing。ThisisreallythejolliestlittleplaceIeverwasin。Now,whereverdidyoupickupthoseprints?Maketheplacelooksohome-like,theydo。Nowonderyou’resofondofit,Mole。Tellusallaboutit,andhowyoucametomakeitwhatitis。’
Then,whiletheRatbusiedhimselffetchingplates,andknivesandforks,andmustardwhichhemixedinanegg-cup,theMole,hisbosomstillheavingwiththestressofhisrecentemotion,related——somewhatshylyatfirst,butwithmorefreedomashewarmedtohissubject——howthiswasplanned,andhowthatwasthoughtout,andhowthiswasgotthroughawindfallfromanaunt,andthatwasawonderfulfindandabargain,andthisotherthingwasboughtoutoflaborioussavingsandacertainamountof`goingwithout。’Hisspiritsfinallyquiterestored,hemustneedsgoandcaresshispossessions,andtakealampandshowofftheirpointstohisvisitorandexpatiateonthem,quiteforgetfulofthesuppertheybothsomuchneeded;Rat,whowasdesperatelyhungrybutstrovetoconcealit,noddingseriously,examiningwithapuckeredbrow,andsaying,`wonderful,’and`mostremarkable,’atintervals,whenthechanceforanobservationwasgivenhim。
AtlasttheRatsucceededindecoyinghimtothetable,andhadjustgotseriouslytoworkwiththesardine-openerwhensoundswereheardfromthefore-courtwithout——soundslikethescufflingofsmallfeetinthegravelandaconfusedmurmuroftinyvoices,whilebrokensentencesreachedthem——`Now,allinaline——holdthelanternupabit,Tommy——clearyourthroatsfirst——nocoughingafterIsayone,two,three。——Where’syoungBill?——Here,comeon,do,we’realla-waiting————’
`What’sup?’inquiredtheRat,pausinginhislabours。
`Ithinkitmustbethefield-mice,’repliedtheMole,withatouchofprideinhismanner。`Theygoroundcarol-singingregularlyatthistimeoftheyear。They’requiteaninstitutionintheseparts。Andtheyneverpassmeover——theycometoMoleEndlastofall;andIusedtogivethemhotdrinks,andsuppertoosometimes,whenIcouldaffordit。Itwillbelikeoldtimestohearthemagain。’
`Let’shavealookatthem!’criedtheRat,jumpingupandrunningtothedoor。
Itwasaprettysight,andaseasonableone,thatmettheireyeswhentheyflungthedooropen。Inthefore-court,litbythedimraysofahornlantern,someeightortenlittlefieldmicestoodinasemicircle,redworstedcomfortersroundtheirthroats,theirfore-pawsthrustdeepintotheirpockets,theirfeetjiggingforwarmth。Withbrightbeadyeyestheyglancedshylyateachother,sniggeringalittle,sniffingandapplyingcoat-
sleevesagooddeal。Asthedooropened,oneoftheelderonesthatcarriedthelanternwasjustsaying,`Nowthen,one,two,three!’andforthwiththeirshrilllittlevoicesuproseontheair,singingoneoftheold-timecarolsthattheirforefatherscomposedinfieldsthatwerefallowandheldbyfrost,orwhensnow-boundinchimneycorners,andhandeddowntobesunginthemirystreettolamp-litwindowsatYule-time。
CAROL
Villagersall,thisfrostytide,Letyourdoorsswingopenwide,Thoughwindmayfollow,andsnowbeside,Yetdrawusinbyyourfiretobide;
Joyshallbeyoursinthemorning!
Herewestandinthecoldandthesleet,Blowingfingersandstampingfeet,Comefromfarawayyoutogreet——
Youbythefireandweinthestreet——
Biddingyoujoyinthemorning!
Forereonehalfofthenightwasgone,Suddenastarhasleduson,Rainingblissandbenison——
Blissto-morrowandmoreanon,Joyforeverymorning!
GoodmanJosephtoiledthroughthesnow——
Sawthestaro’erastablelow;
Maryshemightnotfurthergo——
Welcomethatch,andlitterbelow!
Joywashersinthemorning!
Andthentheyheardtheangelstell`WhowerethefirsttocryNOWELL?
Animalsall,asitbefell,Inthestablewheretheydiddwell!
Joyshallbetheirsinthemorning!’
Thevoicesceased,thesingers,bashfulbutsmiling,exchangedsidelongglances,andsilencesucceeded——butforamomentonly。
Then,fromupaboveandfaraway,downthetunneltheyhadsolatelytravelledwasbornetotheirearsinafaintmusicalhumthesoundofdistantbellsringingajoyfulandclangorouspeal。
`Verywellsung,boys!’criedtheRatheartily。`Andnowcomealongin,allofyou,andwarmyourselvesbythefire,andhavesomethinghot!’
`Yes,comealong,field-mice,’criedtheMoleeagerly。`Thisisquitelikeoldtimes!Shutthedoorafteryou。Pullupthatsettletothefire。Now,youjustwaitaminute,whilewe——O,Ratty!’hecriedindespair,plumpingdownonaseat,withtearsimpending。`Whateverarewedoing?We’venothingtogivethem!’
`Youleaveallthattome,’saidthemasterfulRat。`Here,youwiththelantern!Comeoverthisway。Iwanttotalktoyou。
Now,tellme,arethereanyshopsopenatthishourofthenight?’
`Why,certainly,sir,’repliedthefield-mouserespectfully。`Atthistimeoftheyearourshopskeepopentoallsortsofhours。’
`Thenlookhere!’saidtheRat。`Yougooffatonce,youandyourlantern,andyougetme————’
Heremuchmutteredconversationensued,andtheMoleonlyheardbitsofit,suchas——`Fresh,mind!——no,apoundofthatwilldo——
seeyougetBuggins’s,forIwon’thaveanyother——no,onlythebest——ifyoucan’tgetitthere,trysomewhereelse——yes,ofcourse,home-made,notinnedstuff——wellthen,dothebestyoucan!’Finally,therewasachinkofcoinpassingfrompawtopaw,thefield-mousewasprovidedwithanamplebasketforhispurchases,andoffhehurried,heandhislantern。
Therestofthefield-mice,perchedinarowonthesettle,theirsmalllegsswinging,gavethemselvesuptoenjoymentofthefire,andtoastedtheirchilblainstilltheytingled;whiletheMole,failingtodrawthemintoeasyconversation,plungedintofamilyhistoryandmadeeachofthemrecitethenamesofhisnumerousbrothers,whoweretooyoung,itappeared,tobeallowedtogoouta-carollingthisyear,butlookedforwardveryshortlytowinningtheparentalconsent。