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.
'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.
Theycouldseethegapeofhistinybeakasheyawnedinaboredsortofway,lookedround,andthensettledhisheadintohisbackagain,whiletheruffledfeathersgraduallysubsidedintoperfectstillness.
Thenagustofbitterwindtooktheminthebackoftheneck,asmallstingoffrozensleetontheskinwokethemasfromadream,andtheyknewtheirtoestobecoldandtheirlegstired,andtheirownhomedistantawearyway.
Oncebeyondthevillage,wherethecottagesceasedabruptly,oneithersideoftheroadtheycouldsmellthroughthedarknessthefriendlyfieldsagain;andtheybracedthemselvesforthelastlongstretch,thehomestretch,thestretchthatweknowisboundtoend,sometime,intherattleofthedoor-latch,thesuddenfirelight,andthesightoffamiliarthingsgreetingusaslong-absenttravellersfromfarover-sea.
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.
Home!Thatwaswhattheymeant,thosecaressingappeals,thosesofttoucheswaftedthroughtheair,thoseinvisiblelittlehandspullingandtugging,alloneway!
Why,itmustbequiteclosebyhimatthatmoment,hisoldhomethathehadhurriedlyforsakenandneversoughtagain,thatdaywhenhefirstfoundtheriver!
Sincehisescapeonthatbrightmorninghehadhardlygivenitathought,soabsorbedhadhebeeninhisnewlife,inallitspleasures,itssurprises,itsfreshandcaptivatingexperiences.
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!'
I'vejustcomeacrossthesmellofit,andit'sclosebyhere,reallyquiteclose.AndIMUSTgotoit,Imust,Imust!Oh,comeback,Ratty!Please,pleasecomeback!'
TheRatwasbythistimeveryfarahead,toofartohearclearlywhattheMolewascalling,toofartocatchthesharpnoteofpainfulappealinhisvoice.
Andhewasmuchtakenupwiththeweather,forhetoocouldsmellsomething—somethingsuspiciouslylikeapproachingsnow.
PoorMolestoodaloneintheroad,hishearttornasunder,andabigsobgathering,gathering,somewherelowdowninsidehim,toleapuptothesurfacepresently,heknew,inpassionateescape.
WithawrenchthattorehisveryheartstringshesethisfacedowntheroadandfollowedsubmissivelyinthetrackoftheRat,whilefaint,thinlittlesmells,stilldogginghisretreatingnose,reproachedhimforhisnewfriendshipandhiscallousforgetfulness.
WithanefforthecaughtuptotheunsuspectingRat,whobeganchatteringcheerfullyaboutwhattheywoulddowhentheygotback,andhowjollyafireoflogsintheparlourwouldbe,andwhatasupperhemeanttoeat;nevernoticinghiscompanion'ssilenceanddistressfulstateofmind.
Atlast,however,whentheyhadgonesomeconsiderablewayfurther,andwerepassingsometree-stumpsattheedgeofacopsethatborderedtheroad,hestoppedandsaidkindly,'Lookhere,Moleoldchap,youseemdeadtired.
Upandup,itforceditswaytotheair,andthenanother,andanother,andothersthickandfast;tillpoorMoleatlastgaveupthestruggle,andcriedfreelyandhelplesslyandopenly,nowthatheknewitwasalloverandhehadlostwhathecouldhardlybesaidtohavefound.
PoorMolefounditdifficulttogetanywordsoutbetweentheupheavalsofhischestthatfollowedoneuponanothersoquicklyandheldbackspeechandchokeditasitcame.'
Iknowit'sa—shabby,dingylittleplace,'hesobbedforthatlast,brokenly:'notlike—yourcosyquarters—orToad'sbeautifulhall—orBadger'sgreathouse—butitwasmyownlittlehome—andIwasfondofit—andIwentawayandforgotallaboutit—andthenIsmeltitsuddenly—ontheroad,whenIcalledandyouwouldn'tlisten,Rat—andeverythingcamebacktomewitharush—andIWANTEDit!—Odear,Odear!
—andwhenyouWOULDN'Tturnback,Ratty—andIhadtoleaveit,thoughIwassmellingitallthetime—Ithoughtmyheartwouldbreak.
—Wemighthavejustgoneandhadonelookatit,Ratty—onlyonelook—itwascloseby—butyouwouldn'tturnback,Ratty,youwouldn'tturnback!Odear,Odear!'
HewaitedtillMole'ssobsbecamegraduallylessstormyandmorerhythmical;hewaitedtillatlastsniffswerefrequentandsobsonlyintermittent.
'We'regoingtofindthathomeofyours,oldfellow,'repliedtheRatpleasantly;'soyouhadbettercomealong,foritwilltakesomefinding,andweshallwantyournose.'
Stillsnuffling,pleading,andreluctant,Molesufferedhimselftobedraggedbackalongtheroadbyhisimperiouscompanion,whobyaflowofcheerfultalkandanecdoteendeavouredtobeguilehisspiritsbackandmakethewearywayseemshorter.
WhenatlastitseemedtotheRatthattheymustbenearingthatpartoftheroadwheretheMolehadbeen'heldup,'hesaid,'Now,nomoretalking.Business!
Theymovedoninsilenceforsomelittleway,whensuddenlytheRatwasconscious,throughhisarmthatwaslinkedinMole's,ofafaintsortofelectricthrillthatwaspassingdownthatanimal'sbody.
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.
Outofthecentreofthepondroseafancifulerectionclothedinmorecockle-shellsandtoppedbyalargesilveredglassballthatreflectedeverythingallwrongandhadaverypleasingeffect.
Mole'sface-beamedatthesightofalltheseobjectssodeartohim,andhehurriedRatthroughthedoor,litalampinthehall,andtookoneglanceroundhisoldhome.
Hesawthedustlyingthickoneverything,sawthecheerless,desertedlookofthelong-neglectedhouse,anditsnarrow,meagredimensions,itswornandshabbycontents—andcollapsedagainonahall-chair,hisnosetohispaws.'ORatty!'
WhydidIbringyoutothispoor,coldlittleplace,onanightlikethis,whenyoumighthavebeenatRiverBankbythistime,toastingyourtoesbeforeablazingfire,withallyourownnicethingsaboutyou!'
Hewasrunninghereandthere,openingdoors,inspectingroomsandcupboards,andlightinglampsandcandlesandstickingthem,upeverywhere.'Whatacapitallittlehousethisis!'hecalledoutcheerily.'Socompact!Sowellplanned!
Thefirstthingwewantisagoodfire;I'llseetothat—Ialwaysknowwheretofindthings.Sothisistheparlour?Splendid!
Now,I'llfetchthewoodandthecoals,andyougetaduster,Mole—you'llfindoneinthedrawerofthekitchentable—andtryandsmartenthingsupabit.Bustleabout,oldchap!'
Encouragedbyhisinspiritingcompanion,theMolerousedhimselfanddustedandpolishedwithenergyandheartiness,whiletheRat,runningtoandfrowitharmfulsoffuel,soonhadacheerfulblazeroaringupthechimney.
HehailedtheMoletocomeandwarmhimself;butMolepromptlyhadanotherfitoftheblues,droppingdownonacouchindarkdespairandburyinghisfaceinhisduster.
'Why,onlyjustnowIsawasardine-openeronthekitchendresser,quitedistinctly;andeverybodyknowsthatmeanstherearesardinesaboutsomewhereintheneighbourhood.Rouseyourself!
Theresultwasnotsoverydepressingafterall,thoughofcourseitmighthavebeenbetter;atinofsardines—aboxofcaptain'sbiscuits,nearlyfull—andaGermansausageencasedinsilverpaper.
'There'sabanquetforyou!'observedtheRat,ashearrangedthetable.'Iknowsomeanimalswhowouldgivetheirearstobesittingdowntosupperwithusto-night!'
'Andthatremindsme—what'sthatlittledoorattheendofthepassage?Yourcellar,ofcourse!Everyluxuryinthishouse!Justyouwaitaminute.'
Hemadeforthecellar-door,andpresentlyreappeared,somewhatdusty,withabottleofbeerineachpawandanotherundereacharm,'Self-indulgentbeggaryouseemtobe,Mole,'heobserved.'Denyyourselfnothing.
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.
Andtheyneverpassmeover—theycometoMoleEndlastofall;andIusedtogivethemhotdrinks,andsuppertoosometimes,whenIcouldaffordit.
Inthefore-court,litbythedimraysofahornlantern,someeightortenlittlefieldmicestoodinasemicircle,redworstedcomfortersroundtheirthroats,theirfore-pawsthrustdeepintotheirpockets,theirfeetjiggingforwarmth.
Withbrightbeadyeyestheyglancedshylyateachother,sniggeringalittle,sniffingandapplyingcoat-sleevesagooddeal.
andforthwiththeirshrilllittlevoicesuproseontheair,singingoneoftheold-timecarolsthattheirforefatherscomposedinfieldsthatwerefallowandheldbyfrost,orwhensnow-boundinchimneycorners,andhandeddowntobesunginthemirystreettolamp-litwindowsatYule-time.
Thevoicesceased,thesingers,bashfulbutsmiling,exchangedsidelongglances,andsilencesucceeded—butforamomentonly.
Then,fromupaboveandfaraway,downthetunneltheyhadsolatelytravelledwasbornetotheirearsinafaintmusicalhumthesoundofdistantbellsringingajoyfulandclangorouspeal.
'Verywellsung,boys!'criedtheRatheartily.'Andnowcomealongin,allofyou,andwarmyourselvesbythefire,andhavesomethinghot!'
'Yes,comealong,field-mice,'criedtheMoleeagerly.'Thisisquitelikeoldtimes!Shutthedoorafteryou.Pullupthatsettletothefire.
hecriedindespair,plumpingdownonaseat,withtearsimpending.'Whateverarewedoing?We'venothingtogivethem!'
'Youleaveallthattome,'saidthemasterfulRat.'Here,youwiththelantern!Comeoverthisway.Iwanttotalktoyou.Now,tellme,arethereanyshopsopenatthishourofthenight?'
'Why,certainly,sir,'repliedthefield-mouserespectfully.'Atthistimeoftheyearourshopskeepopentoallsortsofhours.'
—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.
IperceivethistobeOldBurton,'heremarkedapprovingly.'SENSIBLEMole!Theverything!Nowweshallbeabletomullsomeale!
Itdidnottakelongtopreparethebrewandthrustthetinheaterwellintotheredheartofthefire;andsooneveryfield-mousewassippingandcoughingandchoking(foralittlemulledalegoesalongway)andwipinghiseyesandlaughingandforgettinghehadeverbeencoldinallhislife.
Theygaveusacapitalonelastyear,aboutafield-mousewhowascapturedatseabyaBarbarycorsair,andmadetorowinagalley;andwhenheescapedandgothomeagain,hislady-lovehadgoneintoaconvent.Here,YOU!Youwereinit,Iremember.Getupandreciteabit.'
Thefield-mouseaddressedgotuponhislegs,giggledshyly,lookedroundtheroom,andremainedabsolutelytongue-tied.
Hiscomradescheeredhimon,Molecoaxedandencouragedhim,andtheRatwentsofarastotakehimbytheshouldersandshakehim;butnothingcouldovercomehisstage-fright.
TheywereallbusilyengagedonhimlikewatermenapplyingtheRoyalHumaneSociety'sregulationstoacaseoflongsubmersion,whenthelatchclicked,thedooropened,andthefield-mousewiththelanternreappeared,staggeringundertheweightofhisbasket.
Therewasnomoretalkofplay-actingoncetheveryrealandsolidcontentsofthebaskethadbeentumbledoutonthetable.
Inaveryfewminutessupperwasready,andMole,ashetooktheheadofthetableinasortofadream,sawalatelybarrenboardsetthickwithsavourycomforts;sawhislittlefriends'facesbrightenandbeamastheyfelltowithoutdelay;andthenlethimselfloose—forhewasfamishedindeed—ontheprovendersomagicallyprovided,thinkingwhatahappyhome-comingthishadturnedout,afterall.
Astheyate,theytalkedofoldtimes,andthefield-micegavehimthelocalgossipuptodate,andansweredaswellastheycouldthehundredquestionshehadtoaskthem.
TheRatsaidlittleornothing,onlytakingcarethateachguesthadwhathewanted,andplentyofit,andthatMolehadnotroubleoranxietyaboutanything.
Theyclatteredoffatlast,verygratefulandshoweringwishesoftheseason,withtheirjacketpocketsstuffedwithremembrancesforthesmallbrothersandsistersathome.
Whenthedoorhadclosedonthelastofthemandthechinkofthelanternshaddiedaway,MoleandRatkickedthefireup,drewtheirchairsin,brewedthemselvesalastnightcapofmulledale,anddiscussedtheeventsofthelongday.
AtlasttheRat,withatremendousyawn,said,'Mole,oldchap,I'mreadytodrop.Sleepyissimplynottheword.Thatyourownbunkoveronthatside?Verywell,then,I'lltakethis.Whatarippinglittlehousethisis!Everythingsohandy!'
Heclamberedintohisbunkandrolledhimselfwellupintheblankets,andslumbergatheredhimforthwith,asaswatheofbarleyisfoldedintothearmsofthereapingmachine.
Butereheclosedhiseyesheletthemwanderroundhisoldroom,mellowintheglowofthefirelightthatplayedorrestedonfamiliarandfriendlythingswhichhadlongbeenunconsciouslyapartofhim,andnowsmilinglyreceivedhimback,withoutrancour.
Hesawclearlyhowplainandsimple—hownarrow,even—itallwas;butclearly,too,howmuchitallmeanttohim,andthespecialvalueofsomesuchanchorageinone'sexistence.
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