English
TheMolehadbeenworkingveryhardallthemorning,spring-cleaninghislittlehome.
Firstwithbrooms,thenwithdusters;thenonladdersandstepsandchairs,withabrushandapailofwhitewash;tillhehaddustinhisthroatandeyes,andsplashesofwhitewashalloverhisblackfur,andanachingbackandwearyarms.
Springwasmovingintheairaboveandintheearthbelowandaroundhim,penetratingevenhisdarkandlowlylittlehousewithitsspiritofdivinediscontentandlonging.
Itwassmallwonder,then,thathesuddenlyflungdownhisbrushonthefloor,said'Bother!'and'Oblow!'andalso'Hangspring-cleaning!'
andboltedoutofthehousewithoutevenwaitingtoputonhiscoat.
Somethingupabovewascallinghimimperiously,andhemadeforthesteeplittletunnelwhichansweredinhiscasetothegaveledcarriage-driveownedbyanimalswhoseresidencesarenearertothesunandair.
Sohescrapedandscratchedandscrabbledandscroogedandthenhescroogedagainandscrabbledandscratchedandscraped,workingbusilywithhislittlepawsandmutteringtohimself,'Upwego!Upwego!'tillatlast,pop!
hissnoutcameoutintothesunlight,andhefoundhimselfrollinginthewarmgrassofagreatmeadow.
'Thisisfine!'hesaidtohimself.'Thisisbetterthanwhitewashing!'
Thesunshinestruckhotonhisfur,softbreezescaressedhisheatedbrow,andaftertheseclusionofthecellaragehehadlivedinsolongthecarolofhappybirdsfellonhisdulledhearingalmostlikeashout.
Jumpingoffallhisfourlegsatonce,inthejoyoflivingandthedelightofspringwithoutitscleaning,hepursuedhiswayacrossthemeadowtillhereachedthehedgeonthefurtherside.
'Holdup!'saidanelderlyrabbitatthegap.
'Sixpencefortheprivilegeofpassingbytheprivateroad!'
HewasbowledoverinaninstantbytheimpatientandcontemptuousMole,whotrottedalongthesideofthehedgechaffingtheotherrabbitsastheypeepedhurriedlyfromtheirholestoseewhattherowwasabout.'Onion-sauce!Onion-sauce!'
heremarkedjeeringly,andwasgonebeforetheycouldthinkofathoroughlysatisfactoryreply.
Thentheyallstartedgrumblingateachother.'HowSTUPIDyouare!
Whydidn'tyoutellhim——''Well,whydidn'tYOUsay——''Youmighthaveremindedhim——'andsoon,intheusualway;but,ofcourse,itwasthenmuchtoolate,asisalwaysthecase.
Itallseemedtoogoodtobetrue.Hitherandthitherthroughthemeadowsherambledbusily,alongthehedgerows,acrossthecopses,findingeverywherebirdsbuilding,flowersbudding,leavesthrusting—everythinghappy,andprogressive,andoccupied.
Andinsteadofhavinganuneasyconscienceprickinghimandwhispering'whitewash!'
hesomehowcouldonlyfeelhowjollyitwastobetheonlyidledogamongallthesebusycitizens.
Afterall,thebestpartofaholidayisperhapsnotsomuchtoberestingyourself,astoseealltheotherfellowsbusyworking.
Hethoughthishappinesswascompletewhen,ashemeanderedaimlesslyalong,suddenlyhestoodbytheedgeofafull-fedriver.
Neverinhislifehadheseenariverbefore—thissleek,sinuous,full-bodiedanimal,chasingandchuckling,grippingthingswithagurgleandleavingthemwithalaugh,toflingitselfonfreshplaymatesthatshookthemselvesfree,andwerecaughtandheldagain.
Allwasa-shakeanda-shiver—glintsandgleamsandsparkles,rustleandswirl,chatterandbubble.
TheMolewasbewitched,entranced,fascinated.
Bythesideoftheriverhetrottedasonetrots,whenverysmall,bythesideofamanwhoholdsonespell-boundbyexcitingstories;andwhentiredatlast,hesatonthebank,whiletheriverstillchatteredontohim,ababblingprocessionofthebeststoriesintheworld,sentfromtheheartoftheearthtobetoldatlasttotheinsatiablesea.
Ashesatonthegrassandlookedacrosstheriver,adarkholeinthebankopposite,justabovethewater'sedge,caughthiseye,anddreamilyhefelltoconsideringwhatanicesnugdwelling-placeitwouldmakeforananimalwithfewwantsandfondofabijouriversideresidence,abovefloodlevelandremotefromnoiseanddust.
Ashegazed,somethingbrightandsmallseemedtotwinkledownintheheartofit,vanished,thentwinkledoncemorelikeatinystar.
Butitcouldhardlybeastarinsuchanunlikelysituation;anditwastooglitteringandsmallforaglow-worm.
Then,ashelooked,itwinkedathim,andsodeclareditselftobeaneye;andasmallfacebegangraduallytogrowuproundit,likeaframeroundapicture.
Abrownlittleface,withwhiskers.
Agraveroundface,withthesametwinkleinitseyethathadfirstattractedhisnotice.
Smallneatearsandthicksilkyhair.
ItwastheWaterRat!
Thenthetwoanimalsstoodandregardedeachothercautiously.
'Hullo,Mole!'saidtheWaterRat.
'Hullo,Rat!'saidtheMole.
'Wouldyouliketocomeover?'enquiredtheRatpresently.
'Oh,itsallverywelltoTALK,'saidtheMole,ratherpettishly,hebeingnewtoariverandriversidelifeanditsways.
TheRatsaidnothing,butstoopedandunfastenedaropeandhauledonit;thenlightlysteppedintoalittleboatwhichtheMolehadnotobserved.
Itwaspaintedblueoutsideandwhitewithin,andwasjustthesizefortwoanimals;andtheMole'swholeheartwentouttoitatonce,eventhoughhedidnotyetfullyunderstanditsuses.
TheRatsculledsmartlyacrossandmadefast.
ThenhehelduphisforepawastheMolesteppedgingerlydown.'Leanonthat!'hesaid.'Nowthen,steplively!'
andtheMoletohissurpriseandrapturefoundhimselfactuallyseatedinthesternofarealboat.
'Thishasbeenawonderfulday!'saidhe,astheRatshovedoffandtooktothescullsagain.'Doyouknow,I'veneverbeeninaboatbeforeinallmylife.'
'What?'criedtheRat,open-mouthed:'Neverbeenina—younever—wellI—whathaveyoubeendoing,then?'
'Isitsoniceasallthat?'askedtheMoleshyly,thoughhewasquitepreparedtobelieveitasheleantbackinhisseatandsurveyedthecushions,theoars,therowlocks,andallthefascinatingfittings,andfelttheboatswaylightlyunderhim.
'Nice?It'stheONLYthing,'saidtheWaterRatsolemnly,asheleantforwardforhisstroke.
'Believeme,myyoungfriend,thereisNOTHING—absolutenothing—halfsomuchworthdoingassimplymessingaboutinboats.
Simplymessing,'hewentondreamily:'messing—about—in—boats;messing——'
'Lookahead,Rat!'criedtheMolesuddenly.
Itwastoolate.Theboatstruckthebankfulltilt.Thedreamer,thejoyousoarsman,layonhisbackatthebottomoftheboat,hisheelsintheair.
'—aboutinboats—orWITHboats,'theRatwentoncomposedly,pickinghimselfupwithapleasantlaugh.'Inoroutof'em,itdoesn'tmatter.
Nothingseemsreallytomatter,that'sthecharmofit.
Whetheryougetaway,orwhetheryoudon't;whetheryouarriveatyourdestinationorwhetheryoureachsomewhereelse,orwhetheryounevergetanywhereatall,you'realwaysbusy,andyouneverdoanythinginparticular;andwhenyou'vedoneitthere'salwayssomethingelsetodo,andyoucandoitifyoulike,butyou'dmuchbetternot.Lookhere!
Ifyou'vereallynothingelseonhandthismorning,supposingwedropdowntherivertogether,andhavealongdayofit?'
TheMolewaggledhistoesfromsheerhappiness,spreadhischestwithasighoffullcontentment,andleanedbackblissfullyintothesoftcushions.'WHATadayI'mhaving!'hesaid.'Letusstartatonce!'
'Holdhardaminute,then!'saidtheRat.
Heloopedthepainterthrougharinginhislanding-stage,climbedupintohisholeabove,andafterashortintervalreappearedstaggeringunderafat,wickerluncheon-basket.
'Shovethatunderyourfeet,'heobservedtotheMole,ashepasseditdownintotheboat.Thenheuntiedthepainterandtookthescullsagain.
'What'sinsideit?'askedtheMole,wrigglingwithcuriosity.
'There'scoldchickeninsideit,'repliedtheRatbriefly;'coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwichespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater——'
'Ostop,stop,'criedtheMoleinecstacies:'Thisistoomuch!'
'Doyoureallythinkso?'enquiredtheRatseriously.'It'sonlywhatIalwaystakeontheselittleexcursions;andtheotheranimalsarealwaystellingmethatI'mameanbeastandcutitVERYfine!'
TheMoleneverheardawordhewassaying.
Absorbedinthenewlifehewasenteringupon,intoxicatedwiththesparkle,theripple,thescentsandthesoundsandthesunlight,hetrailedapawinthewateranddreamedlongwakingdreams.
TheWaterRat,likethegoodlittlefellowhewas,sculledsteadilyonandforeboretodisturbhim.
'Ilikeyourclothesawfully,oldchap,'heremarkedaftersomehalfanhourorsohadpassed.'I'mgoingtogetablackvelvetsmoking-suitmyselfsomeday,assoonasIcanaffordit.'
'Ibegyourpardon,'saidtheMole,pullinghimselftogetherwithaneffort.'Youmustthinkmeveryrude;butallthisissonewtome.So—this—is—a—River!'
'THERiver,'correctedtheRat.
'Andyoureallylivebytheriver?Whatajollylife!'
'Byitandwithitandonitandinit,'saidtheRat.
'It'sbrotherandsistertome,andaunts,andcompany,andfoodanddrink,and(naturally)washing.
It'smyworld,andIdon'twantanyother.
Whatithasn'tgotisnotworthhaving,andwhatitdoesn'tknowisnotworthknowing.Lord!thetimeswe'vehadtogether!
Whetherinwinterorsummer,springorautumn,it'salwaysgotitsfunanditsexcitements.
WhenthefloodsareoninFebruary,andmycellarsandbasementarebrimmingwithdrinkthat'snogoodtome,andthebrownwaterrunsbymybestbedroomwindow;oragainwhenitalldropsawayand,showspatchesofmudthatsmellslikeplum-cake,andtherushesandweedclogthechannels,andIcanpotteraboutdryshodovermostofthebedofitandfindfreshfoodtoeat,andthingscarelesspeoplehavedroppedoutofboats!'
'Butisn'titabitdullattimes?'theMoleventuredtoask.'Justyouandtheriver,andnooneelsetopassawordwith?'
'Nooneelseto—well,Imustn'tbehardonyou,'saidtheRatwithforbearance.
'You'renewtoit,andofcourseyoudon'tknow.
Thebankissocrowdednowadaysthatmanypeoplearemovingawayaltogether:Ono,itisn'twhatitusedtobe,atall.
Otters,kingfishers,dabchicks,moorhens,allofthemaboutalldaylongandalwayswantingyoutoDOsomething—asifafellowhadnobusinessofhisowntoattendto!'
'WhatliesoverTHERE'askedtheMole,wavingapawtowardsabackgroundofwoodlandthatdarklyframedthewater-meadowsononesideoftheriver.
'That?O,that'sjusttheWildWood,'saidtheRatshortly.'Wedon'tgothereverymuch,weriver-bankers.'
'Aren'tthey—aren'ttheyveryNICEpeopleinthere?'saidtheMole,atriflenervously.
'W-e-ll,'repliedtheRat,'letmesee.Thesquirrelsareallright.
ANDtherabbits—someof'em,butrabbitsareamixedlot.Andthenthere'sBadger,ofcourse.
Helivesrightintheheartofit;wouldn'tliveanywhereelse,either,ifyoupaidhimtodoit.DearoldBadger!NobodyinterfereswithHIM.
They'dbetternot,'headdedsignificantly.
'Why,whoSHOULDinterferewithhim?'askedtheMole.
'Well,ofcourse—there—areothers,'explainedtheRatinahesitatingsortofway.
'Weasels—andstoats—andfoxes—andsoon.
They'reallrightinaway—I'mverygoodfriendswiththem—passthetimeofdaywhenwemeet,andallthat—buttheybreakoutsometimes,there'snodenyingit,andthen—well,youcan'treallytrustthem,andthat'sthefact.'
TheMoleknewwellthatitisquiteagainstanimal-etiquettetodwellonpossibletroubleahead,oreventoalludetoit;sohedroppedthesubject.
'AndbeyondtheWildWoodagain?'heasked:'Whereit'sallblueanddim,andoneseeswhatmaybehillsorperhapstheymayn't,andsomethinglikethesmokeoftowns,orisitonlycloud-drift?'
'BeyondtheWildWoodcomestheWideWorld,'saidtheRat.
'Andthat'ssomethingthatdoesn'tmatter,eithertoyouorme.
I'veneverbeenthere,andI'mnevergoing,noryoueither,ifyou'vegotanysenseatall.Don'teverrefertoitagain,please.Nowthen!
Here'sourbackwateratlast,wherewe'regoingtolunch.'
Leavingthemainstream,theynowpassedintowhatseemedatfirstsightlikealittleland-lockedlake.
Greenturfslopeddowntoeitheredge,brownsnakytree-rootsgleamedbelowthesurfaceofthequietwater,whileaheadofthemthesilveryshoulderandfoamytumbleofaweir,arm-in-armwitharestlessdrippingmill-wheel,thatheldupinitsturnagrey-gabledmill-house,filledtheairwithasoothingmurmurofsound,dullandsmothery,yetwithlittleclearvoicesspeakingupcheerfullyoutofitatintervals.
ItwassoverybeautifulthattheMolecouldonlyholdupbothforepawsandgasp,'Omy!Omy!Omy!'
TheRatbroughttheboatalongsidethebank,madeherfast,helpedthestillawkwardMolesafelyashore,andswungouttheluncheon-basket.
TheMolebeggedasafavourtobeallowedtounpackitallbyhimself;andtheRatwasverypleasedtoindulgehim,andtosprawlatfulllengthonthegrassandrest,whilehisexcitedfriendshookoutthetable-clothandspreadit,tookoutallthemysteriouspacketsonebyoneandarrangedtheircontentsindueorder,stillgasping,'Omy!Omy!'ateachfreshrevelation.
Whenallwasready,theRatsaid,'Now,pitchin,oldfellow!'
andtheMolewasindeedverygladtoobey,forhehadstartedhisspring-cleaningataveryearlyhourthatmorning,aspeopleWILLdo,andhadnotpausedforbiteorsup;andhehadbeenthroughaverygreatdealsincethatdistanttimewhichnowseemedsomanydaysago.
'Whatareyoulookingat?'saidtheRatpresently,whentheedgeoftheirhungerwassomewhatdulled,andtheMole'seyeswereabletowanderoffthetable-clothalittle.
'Iamlooking,'saidtheMole,'atastreakofbubblesthatIseetravellingalongthesurfaceofthewater.Thatisathingthatstrikesmeasfunny.'
'Bubbles?Oho!'saidtheRat,andchirrupedcheerilyinaninvitingsortofway.
Abroadglisteningmuzzleshoweditselfabovetheedgeofthebank,andtheOtterhauledhimselfoutandshookthewaterfromhiscoat.
'Greedybeggars!'heobserved,makingfortheprovender.'Whydidn'tyouinviteme,Ratty?'
'Thiswasanimpromptuaffair,'explainedtheRat.'Bytheway—myfriendMr.Mole.'
'Proud,I'msure,'saidtheOtter,andthetwoanimalswerefriendsforthwith.
'Sucharumpuseverywhere!'continuedtheOtter.
'Alltheworldseemsoutontheriverto-day.
Icameupthisbackwatertotryandgetamoment'speace,andthenstumbleuponyoufellows!
—Atleast—Ibegpardon—Idon'texactlymeanthat,youknow.'
Therewasarustlebehindthem,proceedingfromahedgewhereinlastyear'sleavesstillclungthick,andastripyhead,withhighshouldersbehindit,peeredforthonthem.
'Comeon,oldBadger!'shoutedtheRat.
TheBadgertrottedforwardapaceortwo;thengrunted,'H'm!Company,'andturnedhisbackanddisappearedfromview.
'That'sJUSTthesortoffellowheis!'observedthedisappointedRat.'SimplyhatesSociety!Nowweshan'tseeanymoreofhimto-day.Well,tellus,WHO'Soutontheriver?'
'Toad'sout,forone,'repliedtheOtter.'Inhisbrand-newwager-boat;newtogs,neweverything!'
Thetwoanimalslookedateachotherandlaughed.
'Once,itwasnothingbutsailing,'saidtheRat,'Thenhetiredofthatandtooktopunting.
Nothingwouldpleasehimbuttopuntalldayandeveryday,andanicemesshemadeofit.
Lastyearitwashouse-boating,andweallhadtogoandstaywithhiminhishouse-boat,andpretendwelikedit.
Hewasgoingtospendtherestofhislifeinahouse-boat.
It'sallthesame,whateverhetakesup;hegetstiredofit,andstartsonsomethingfresh.'
'Suchagoodfellow,too,'remarkedtheOtterreflectively:'Butnostability—especiallyinaboat!'
Fromwheretheysattheycouldgetaglimpseofthemainstreamacrosstheislandthatseparatedthem;andjustthenawager-boatflashedintoview,therower—ashort,stoutfigure—splashingbadlyandrollingagooddeal,butworkinghishardest.
TheRatstoodupandhailedhim,butToad—foritwashe—shookhisheadandsettledsternlytohiswork.
'He'llbeoutoftheboatinaminuteifherollslikethat,'saidtheRat,sittingdownagain.
'Ofcoursehewill,'chuckledtheOtter.'DidIevertellyouthatgoodstoryaboutToadandthelock-keeper?Ithappenedthisway.Toad....'
AnerrantMay-flyswervedunsteadilyathwartthecurrentintheintoxicatedfashionaffectedbyyoungbloodsofMay-fliesseeinglife.Aswirlofwateranda'cloop!'andtheMay-flywasvisiblenomore.
NeitherwastheOtter.
TheMolelookeddown.Thevoicewasstillinhisears,buttheturfwhereonhehadsprawledwasclearlyvacant.NotanOttertobeseen,asfarasthedistanthorizon.
Butagaintherewasastreakofbubblesonthesurfaceoftheriver.
TheRathummedatune,andtheMolerecollectedthatanimal-etiquetteforbadeanysortofcommentonthesuddendisappearanceofone'sfriendsatanymoment,foranyreasonornoreasonwhatever.
'Well,well,'saidtheRat,'Isupposeweoughttobemoving.Iwonderwhichofushadbetterpacktheluncheon-basket?'Hedidnotspeakasifhewasfrightfullyeagerforthetreat.
'O,pleaseletme,'saidtheMole.So,ofcourse,theRatlethim.
Packingthebasketwasnotquitesuchpleasantworkasunpacking'thebasket.Itneveris.
ButtheMolewasbentonenjoyingeverything,andalthoughjustwhenhehadgotthebasketpackedandstrappeduptightlyhesawaplatestaringupathimfromthegrass,andwhenthejobhadbeendoneagaintheRatpointedoutaforkwhichanybodyoughttohaveseen,andlastofall,behold!
themustardpot,whichhehadbeensittingonwithoutknowingit—still,somehow,thethinggotfinishedatlast,withoutmuchlossoftemper.
TheafternoonsunwasgettinglowastheRatsculledgentlyhomewardsinadreamymood,murmuringpoetry-thingsovertohimself,andnotpayingmuchattentiontoMole.
ButtheMolewasveryfulloflunch,andself-satisfaction,andpride,andalreadyquiteathomeinaboat(sohethought)andwasgettingabitrestlessbesides:andpresentlyhesaid,'Ratty!Please,Iwanttorow,now!'
TheRatshookhisheadwithasmile.'Notyet,myyoungfriend,'hesaid—'waittillyou'vehadafewlessons.It'snotsoeasyasitlooks.'
TheMolewasquietforaminuteortwo.ButhebegantofeelmoreandmorejealousofRat,scullingsostronglyandsoeasilyalong,andhispridebegantowhisperthathecoulddoiteverybitaswell.
Hejumpedupandseizedthesculls,sosuddenly,thattheRat,whowasgazingoutoverthewaterandsayingmorepoetry-thingstohimself,wastakenbysurpriseandfellbackwardsoffhisseatwithhislegsintheairforthesecondtime,whilethetriumphantMoletookhisplaceandgrabbedthescullswithentireconfidence.
'Stopit,youSILLYass!'criedtheRat,fromthebottomoftheboat.'Youcan'tdoit!You'llhaveusover!'
TheMoleflunghisscullsbackwithaflourish,andmadeagreatdigatthewater.
Hemissedthesurfacealtogether,hislegsflewupabovehishead,andhefoundhimselflyingonthetopoftheprostrateRat.
Greatlyalarmed,hemadeagrabatthesideoftheboat,andthenextmoment—Sploosh!
Overwenttheboat,andhefoundhimselfstrugglingintheriver.
Omy,howcoldthewaterwas,andO,howVERYwetitfelt.
Howitsanginhisearsashewentdown,down,down!
Howbrightandwelcomethesunlookedasherosetothesurfacecoughingandspluttering!
Howblackwashisdespairwhenhefelthimselfsinkingagain!
Thenafirmpawgrippedhimbythebackofhisneck.
ItwastheRat,andhewasevidentlylaughing—theMolecouldFEELhimlaughing,rightdownhisarmandthroughhispaw,andsointohis—theMole's—neck.
TheRatgotholdofascullandshoveditundertheMole'sarm;thenhedidthesamebytheothersideofhimand,swimmingbehind,propelledthehelplessanimaltoshore,hauledhimout,andsethimdownonthebank,asquashy,pulpylumpofmisery.
WhentheRathadrubbedhimdownabit,andwrungsomeofthewetoutofhim,hesaid,'Now,then,oldfellow!
Trotupanddownthetowing-pathashardasyoucan,tillyou'rewarmanddryagain,whileIdivefortheluncheon-basket.'
SothedismalMole,wetwithoutandashamedwithin,trottedabouttillhewasfairlydry,whiletheRatplungedintothewateragain,recoveredtheboat,rightedherandmadeherfast,fetchedhisfloatingpropertytoshorebydegrees,andfinallydivedsuccessfullyfortheluncheon-basketandstruggledtolandwithit.
Whenallwasreadyforastartoncemore,theMole,limpanddejected,tookhisseatinthesternoftheboat;andastheysetoff,hesaidinalowvoice,brokenwithemotion,'Ratty,mygenerousfriend!
Iamverysorryindeedformyfoolishandungratefulconduct.
MyheartquitefailsmewhenIthinkhowImighthavelostthatbeautifulluncheon-basket.
Indeed,Ihavebeenacompleteass,andIknowit.
Willyouoverlookitthisonceandforgiveme,andletthingsgoonasbefore?'
'That'sallright,blessyou!'respondedtheRatcheerily.'What'salittlewettoaWaterRat?
I'mmoreinthewaterthanoutofitmostdays.
Don'tyouthinkanymoreaboutit;and,lookhere!
Ireallythinkyouhadbettercomeandstopwithmeforalittletime.
It'sveryplainandrough,youknow—notlikeToad'shouseatall—butyouhaven'tseenthatyet;still,Icanmakeyoucomfortable.
AndI'llteachyoutorow,andtoswim,andyou'llsoonbeashandyonthewaterasanyofus.'
TheMolewassotouchedbyhiskindmannerofspeakingthathecouldfindnovoicetoanswerhim;andhehadtobrushawayatearortwowiththebackofhispaw.
ButtheRatkindlylookedinanotherdirection,andpresentlytheMole'sspiritsrevivedagain,andhewasevenabletogivesomestraightback-talktoacoupleofmoorhenswhoweresniggeringtoeachotherabouthisbedraggledappearance.
Whentheygothome,theRatmadeabrightfireintheparlour,andplantedtheMoleinanarm-chairinfrontofit,havingfetcheddownadressing-gownandslippersforhim,andtoldhimriverstoriestillsupper-time.
Verythrillingstoriestheywere,too,toanearth-dwellinganimallikeMole.
Storiesaboutweirs,andsuddenfloods,andleapingpike,andsteamersthatflunghardbottles—atleastbottleswerecertainlyflung,andFROMsteamers,sopresumablyBYthem;andaboutherons,andhowparticulartheywerewhomtheyspoketo;andaboutadventuresdowndrains,andnight-fishingswithOtter,orexcursionsfara-fieldwithBadger.
Supperwasamostcheerfulmeal;butveryshortlyafterwardsaterriblysleepyMolehadtobeescortedupstairsbyhisconsideratehost,tothebestbedroom,wherehesoonlaidhisheadonhispillowingreatpeaceandcontentment,knowingthathisnew-foundfriendtheRiverwaslappingthesillofhiswindow.
ThisdaywasonlythefirstofmanysimilaronesfortheemancipatedMole,eachofthemlongerandfullofinterestastheripeningsummermovedonward.
Helearnttoswimandtorow,andenteredintothejoyofrunningwater;andwithhiseartothereed-stemshecaught,atintervals,somethingofwhatthewindwentwhisperingsoconstantlyamongthem.
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