English
THEYwaitedpatientlyforwhatseemedaverylongtime,stampinginthesnowtokeeptheirfeetwarm.
Atlasttheyheardthesoundofslowshufflingfootstepsapproachingthedoorfromtheinside.
Itseemed,astheMoleremarkedtotheRat,likesomeonewalkingincarpetslippersthatweretoolargeforhimanddownatheel;whichwasintelligentofMole,becausethatwasexactlywhatitwas.
Therewasthenoiseofaboltshotback,andthedooropenedafewinches,enoughtoshowalongsnoutandapairofsleepyblinkingeyes.
'Now,theVERYnexttimethishappens,'saidagruffandsuspiciousvoice,'Ishallbeexceedinglyangry.WhoisitTHIStime,disturbingpeopleonsuchanight?Speakup!'
'Oh,Badger,'criedtheRat,'letusin,please.It'sme,Rat,andmyfriendMole,andwe'velostourwayinthesnow.'
'What,Ratty,mydearlittleman!'exclaimedtheBadger,inquiteadifferentvoice.'Comealongin,bothofyou,atonce.Why,youmustbeperished.WellInever!Lostinthesnow!
AndintheWildWood,too,andatthistimeofnight!Butcomeinwithyou.'
Thetwoanimalstumbledovereachotherintheireagernesstogetinside,andheardthedoorshutbehindthemwithgreatjoyandrelief.
TheBadger,whoworealongdressing-gown,andwhoseslipperswereindeedverydownatheel,carriedaflatcandlestickinhispawandhadprobablybeenonhiswaytobedwhentheirsummonssounded.
Helookedkindlydownonthemandpattedboththeirheads.
'Thisisnotthesortofnightforsmallanimalstobeout,'hesaidpaternally.
'I'mafraidyou'vebeenuptosomeofyourpranksagain,Ratty.Butcomealong;comeintothekitchen.
There'safirst-ratefirethere,andsupperandeverything.'
Heshuffledoninfrontofthem,carryingthelight,andtheyfollowedhim,nudgingeachotherinananticipatingsortofway,downalong,gloomy,and,totellthetruth,decidedlyshabbypassage,intoasortofacentralhall;outofwhichtheycoulddimlyseeotherlongtunnel-likepassagesbranching,passagesmysteriousandwithoutapparentend.
Butthereweredoorsinthehallaswell—stoutoakencomfortable-lookingdoors.
OneofthesetheBadgerflungopen,andatoncetheyfoundthemselvesinalltheglowandwarmthofalargefire-litkitchen.
Thefloorwaswell-wornredbrick,andonthewidehearthburntafireoflogs,betweentwoattractivechimney-cornerstuckedawayinthewall,welloutofanysuspicionofdraught.
Acoupleofhigh-backedsettles,facingeachotheroneithersideofthefire,gavefurthersittingaccommodationsforthesociablydisposed.
Inthemiddleoftheroomstoodalongtableofplainboardsplacedontrestles,withbenchesdowneachside.
Atoneendofit,whereanarm-chairstoodpushedback,werespreadtheremainsoftheBadger'splainbutamplesupper.
Rowsofspotlessplateswinkedfromtheshelvesofthedresseratthefarendoftheroom,andfromtheraftersoverheadhunghams,bundlesofdriedherbs,netsofonions,andbasketsofeggs.
Itseemedaplacewhereheroescouldfitlyfeastaftervictory,wherewearyharvesterscouldlineupinscoresalongthetableandkeeptheirHarvestHomewithmirthandsong,orwheretwoorthreefriendsofsimpletastescouldsitaboutastheypleasedandeatandsmokeandtalkincomfortandcontentment.
Theruddybrickfloorsmiledupatthesmokyceiling;theoakensettles,shinywithlongwear,exchangedcheerfulglanceswitheachother;platesonthedressergrinnedatpotsontheshelf,andthemerryfirelightflickeredandplayedovereverythingwithoutdistinction.
ThekindlyBadgerthrustthemdownonasettletotoastthemselvesatthefire,andbadethemremovetheirwetcoatsandboots.
Thenhefetchedthemdressing-gownsandslippers,andhimselfbathedtheMole'sshinwithwarmwaterandmendedthecutwithsticking-plastertillthewholethingwasjustasgoodasnew,ifnotbetter.
Intheembracinglightandwarmth,warmanddryatlast,withwearylegsproppedupinfrontofthem,andasuggestiveclinkofplatesbeingarrangedonthetablebehind,itseemedtothestorm-drivenanimals,nowinsafeanchorage,thatthecoldandtracklessWildWoodjustleftoutsidewasmilesandmilesaway,andallthattheyhadsufferedinitahalf-forgottendream.
Whenatlasttheywerethoroughlytoasted,theBadgersummonedthemtothetable,wherehehadbeenbusylayingarepast.
Theyhadfeltprettyhungrybefore,butwhentheyactuallysawatlastthesupperthatwasspreadforthem,reallyitseemedonlyaquestionofwhattheyshouldattackfirstwhereallwassoattractive,andwhethertheotherthingswouldobliginglywaitforthemtilltheyhadtimetogivethemattention.
Conversationwasimpossibleforalongtime;andwhenitwasslowlyresumed,itwasthatregrettablesortofconversationthatresultsfromtalkingwithyourmouthfull.
TheBadgerdidnotmindthatsortofthingatall,nordidhetakeanynoticeofelbowsonthetable,oreverybodyspeakingatonce.
AshedidnotgointoSocietyhimself,hehadgotanideathatthesethingsbelongedtothethingsthatdidn'treallymatter.
(Weknowofcoursethathewaswrong,andtooktoonarrowaview;becausetheydomatterverymuch,thoughitwouldtaketoolongtoexplainwhy.)
Hesatinhisarm-chairattheheadofthetable,andnoddedgravelyatintervalsastheanimalstoldtheirstory;andhedidnotseemsurprisedorshockedatanything,andheneversaid,'Itoldyouso,'or,'JustwhatIalwayssaid,'orremarkedthattheyoughttohavedoneso-and-so,oroughtnottohavedonesomethingelse.
TheMolebegantofeelveryfriendlytowardshim.
Whensupperwasreallyfinishedatlast,andeachanimalfeltthathisskinwasnowastightaswasdecentlysafe,andthatbythistimehedidn'tcareahangforanybodyoranything,theygatheredroundtheglowingembersofthegreatwoodfire,andthoughthowjollyitwastobesittingupSOlate,andSOindependent,andSOfull;andaftertheyhadchattedforatimeaboutthingsingeneral,theBadgersaidheartily,'Nowthen!
tellusthenewsfromyourpartoftheworld.How'soldToadgoingon?'
'Oh,frombadtoworse,'saidtheRatgravely,whiletheMole,cockeduponasettleandbaskinginthefirelight,hisheelshigherthanhishead,triedtolookproperlymournful.
'Anothersmash-uponlylastweek,andabadone.
Yousee,hewillinsistondrivinghimself,andhe'shopelesslyincapable.
Ifhe'donlyemployadecent,steady,well-trainedanimal,payhimgoodwages,andleaveeverythingtohim,he'dgetonallright.
Butno;he'sconvincedhe'saheaven-borndriver,andnobodycanteachhimanything;andalltherestfollows.'
'Howmanyhashehad?'inquiredtheBadgergloomily.
'Smashes,ormachines?'askedtheRat.
'Oh,well,afterall,it'sthesamething—withToad.Thisistheseventh.
Asfortheothers—youknowthatcoach-houseofhis?
Well,it'spiledup—literallypileduptotheroof—withfragmentsofmotor-cars,noneofthembiggerthanyourhat!
Thataccountsfortheothersix—sofarastheycanbeaccountedfor.'
'He'sbeeninhospitalthreetimes,'putintheMole;'andasforthefineshe'shadtopay,it'ssimplyawfultothinkof.'
'Yes,andthat'spartofthetrouble,'continuedtheRat.
'Toad'srich,weallknow;buthe'snotamillionaire.
Andhe'sahopelesslybaddriver,andquiteregardlessoflawandorder.
Killedorruined—it'sgottobeoneofthetwothings,soonerorlater.Badger!
we'rehisfriends—oughtn'twetodosomething?'
TheBadgerwentthroughabitofhardthinking.'Nowlookhere!'hesaidatlast,ratherseverely;'ofcourseyouknowIcan'tdoanythingNOW?'
Histwofriendsassented,quiteunderstandinghispoint.
Noanimal,accordingtotherulesofanimal-etiquette,iseverexpectedtodoanythingstrenuous,orheroic,orevenmoderatelyactiveduringtheoff-seasonofwinter.Allaresleepy—someactuallyasleep.
Allareweather-bound,moreorless;andallarerestingfromarduousdaysandnights,duringwhicheverymuscleinthemhasbeenseverelytested,andeveryenergykeptatfullstretch.
'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—Icouldhavestayedandplayedwiththemforhours.
Hereandtheregreatbrancheshadbeentornawaybythesheerweightofthesnow,androbinsperchedandhoppedonthemintheirperkyconceitedway,justasiftheyhaddoneitthemselves.
Araggedstringofwildgeesepassedoverhead,highonthegreysky,andafewrookswhirledoverthetrees,inspected,andflappedoffhomewardswithadisgustedexpression;butImetnosensiblebeingtoaskthenewsof.
AbouthalfwayacrossIcameonarabbitsittingonastump,cleaninghissillyfacewithhispaws.
HewasaprettyscaredanimalwhenIcreptupbehindhimandplacedaheavyforepawonhisshoulder.
Ihadtocuffhisheadonceortwicetogetanysenseoutofitatall.
AtlastImanagedtoextractfromhimthatMolehadbeenseenintheWildWoodlastnightbyoneofthem.
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:"DOsomething?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.
IsaynothingagainstToadHall;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.
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