Toallappearancethesummer'spompwasstillatfullestheight,andalthoughinthetilledacresgreenhadgivenwaytogold,thoughrowanswerereddening,andthewoodsweredashedhereandtherewithatawnyfierceness,yetlightandwarmthandcolourwerestillpresentinundiminishedmeasure,cleanofanychillypremonitionsofthepassingyear.
Buttheconstantchorusoftheorchardsandhedgeshadshrunktoacasualevensongfromafewyetunweariedperformers;therobinwasbeginningtoasserthimselfoncemore;andtherewasafeelingintheairofchangeanddeparture.
Thecuckoo,ofcourse,hadlongbeensilent;butmanyanotherfeatheredfriend,formonthsapartofthefamiliarlandscapeanditssmallsociety,wasmissingtooanditseemedthattheranksthinnedsteadilydaybyday.
Rat,everobservantofallwingedmovement,sawthatitwastakingdailyasouthingtendency;andevenashelayinbedatnighthethoughthecouldmakeout,passinginthedarknessoverhead,thebeatandquiverofimpatientpinions,obedienttotheperemptorycall.
Astheguestsonebyonepack,pay,anddepart,andtheseatsatthetable-d'hoteshrinkpitifullyateachsucceedingmeal;assuitesofroomsareclosed,carpetstakenup,andwaiterssentaway;thoseboarderswhoarestayingon,enpension,untilthenextyear'sfullre-opening,cannothelpbeingsomewhataffectedbyalltheseflittingsandfarewells,thiseagerdiscussionofplans,routes,andfreshquarters,thisdailyshrinkageinthestreamofcomradeship.
Youdon'tknowthishoteloutoftheseason,andwhatfunwehaveamongourselves,wefellowswhoremainandseethewholeinterestingyearout.
Allverytrue,nodoubttheothersalwaysreply;wequiteenvyyou—andsomeotheryearperhaps—butjustnowwehaveengagements—andthere'sthebusatthedoor—ourtimeisup!
TheRatwasaself-sufficingsortofanimal,rootedtotheland,and,whoeverwent,hestayed;still,hecouldnothelpnoticingwhatwasintheair,andfeelingsomeofitsinfluenceinhisbones.
Leavingthewater-side,whererushesstoodthickandtallinastreamthatwasbecomingsluggishandlow,hewanderedcountry-wards,crossedafieldortwoofpasturagealreadylookingdustyandparched,andthrustintothegreatseaofwheat,yellow,wavy,andmurmurous,fullofquietmotionandsmallwhisperings.
Hereheoftenlovedtowander,throughtheforestofstiffstrongstalksthatcarriedtheirowngoldenskyawayoverhishead—askythatwasalwaysdancing,shimmering,softlytalking;orswayingstronglytothepassingwindandrecoveringitselfwithatossandamerrylaugh.
Here,too,hehadmanysmallfriends,asocietycompleteinitself,leadingfullandbusylives,butalwayswithasparemomenttogossip,andexchangenewswithavisitor.
Manywerediggingandtunnellingbusily;others,gatheredtogetherinsmallgroups,examinedplansanddrawingsofsmallflats,statedtobedesirableandcompact,andsituatedconvenientlyneartheStores.
Somewerehaulingoutdustytrunksanddress-baskets,otherswerealreadyelbow-deeppackingtheirbelongings;whileeverywherepilesandbundlesofwheat,oats,barley,beech-mastandnuts,layaboutreadyfortransport.
'Whatsortofgamesareyouupto?'saidtheWaterRatseverely.'Youknowitisn'ttimetobethinkingofwinterquartersyet,byalongway!'
'Oyes,weknowthat,'explainedafield-mouserathershamefacedly;'butit'salwaysaswelltobeingoodtime,isn'tit?
WereallyMUSTgetallthefurnitureandbaggageandstoresmovedoutofthisbeforethosehorridmachinesbeginclickingroundthefields;andthen,youknow,thebestflatsgetpickedupsoquicklynowadays,andifyou'relateyouhavetoputupwithANYTHING;andtheywantsuchalotofdoingup,too,beforethey'refittomoveinto.
'O,botherSTARTS,'saidtheRat.'It'sasplendidday.Comeforarow,orastrollalongthehedges,orapicnicinthewoods,orsomething.'
'Well,ITHINKnotTO-DAY,thankyou,'repliedthefield-mousehurriedly.'PerhapssomeOTHERday—whenwe'vemoreTIME——'
'Ifpeoplewouldbemorecareful,'saidafield-mouseratherstiffly,'andlookwherethey'regoing,peoplewouldn'thurtthemselves—andforgetthemselves.Mindthathold-all,Rat!You'dbettersitdownsomewhere.
'Youwon'tbe"free"asyoucallitmuchthissideofChristmas,Icanseethat,'retortedtheRatgrumpily,ashepickedhiswayoutofthefield.
Hereturnedsomewhatdespondentlytohisriveragain—hisfaithful,steady-goingoldriver,whichneverpackedup,flitted,orwentintowinterquarters.
Presentlyitwasjoinedbyanother,andthenbyathird;andthebirds,fidgetingrestlesslyontheirbough,talkedtogetherearnestlyandlow.
Ifyou'veGOTtoleavethispleasantplace,andyourfriendswhowillmissyou,andyoursnughomesthatyou'vejustsettledinto,why,whenthehourstrikesI'venodoubtyou'llgobravely,andfaceallthetroubleanddiscomfortandchangeandnewness,andmakebelievethatyou'renotveryunhappy.
'First,wefeelitstirringwithinus,asweetunrest;thenbackcometherecollectionsonebyone,likehomingpigeons.
Wehungertoinquireofeachother,tocomparenotesandassureourselvesthatitwasallreallytrue,asonebyonethescentsandsoundsandnamesoflong-forgottenplacescomegraduallybackandbeckontous.'
'Couldn'tyoustoponforjustthisyear?'suggestedtheWaterRat,wistfully.'We'llalldoourbesttomakeyoufeelathome.You'venoideawhatgoodtimeswehavehere,whileyouarefaraway.'
No,itwasnogood;mycouragebrokedown,andonecold,stormynightItookwing,flyingwellinlandonaccountofthestrongeasterlygales.
ItwassnowinghardasIbeatthroughthepassesofthegreatmountains,andIhadastifffighttowinthrough;butnevershallIforgettheblissfulfeelingofthehotsunagainonmybackasIspeddowntothelakesthatlaysoblueandplacidbelowme,andthetasteofmyfirstfatinsect!
Thepastwaslikeabaddream;thefuturewasallhappyholidayasImovedsouthwardsweekbyweek,easily,lazily,lingeringaslongasIdared,butalwaysheedingthecall!
O,doyouremember——'and,forgettingtheRat,theyslidintopassionatereminiscence,whilehelistenedfascinated,andhisheartburnedwithinhim.
Themerechatterofthesesouthern-boundbirds,theirpaleandsecond-handreports,hadyetpowertoawakenthiswildnewsensationandthrillhimthroughandthroughwithit;whatwouldonemomentoftherealthingworkinhim—onepassionatetouchoftherealsouthernsun,onewaftoftheauthenticodor?
Withclosedeyeshedaredtodreamamomentinfullabandonment,andwhenhelookedagaintheriverseemedsteelyandchill,thegreenfieldsgreyandlightless.
'Whydoyouevercomeback,then,atall?'hedemandedoftheswallowsjealously.'Whatdoyoufindtoattractyouinthispoordrablittlecountry?'
Thecalloflushmeadow-grass,wetorchards,warm,insect-hauntedponds,ofbrowsingcattle,ofhaymaking,andallthefarm-buildingsclusteringroundtheHouseoftheperfectEaves?'
'Doyousuppose,'askedthesecondone,thatyouaretheonlylivingthingthatcraveswithahungrylongingtohearthecuckoo'snoteagain?'
'Induetime,'saidthethird,'weshallbehome-sickoncemoreforquietwater-liliesswayingonthesurfaceofanEnglishstream.
Theyfella-twitteringamongthemselvesoncemore,andthistimetheirintoxicatingbabblewasofvioletseas,tawnysands,andlizard-hauntedwalls.
RestlesslytheRatwanderedoffoncemore,climbedtheslopethatrosegentlyfromthenorthbankoftheriver,andlaylookingouttowardsthegreatringofDownsthatbarredhisvisionfurthersouthwards—hissimplehorizonhitherto,hisMountainsoftheMoon,hislimitbehindwhichlaynothinghehadcaredtoseeortoknow.
To-day,tohimgazingSouthwithanew-bornneedstirringinhisheart,theclearskyovertheirlonglowoutlineseemedtopulsatewithpromise;to-day,theunseenwaseverything,theunknowntheonlyrealfactoflife.
Onthissideofthehillswasnowtherealblank,ontheotherlaythecrowdedandcolouredpanoramathathisinnereyewasseeingsoclearly.
Whatquietharbours,throngedwithgallantshippingboundforpurpleislandsofwineandspice,islandssetlowinlanguorouswaters!
There,lyinghalf-buriedinthethick,coolunder-hedgetanglethatborderedit,hecouldmuseonthemetalledroadandallthewondrousworldthatitledto;onallthewayfarers,too,thatmighthavetroddenit,andthefortunesandadventurestheyhadgonetoseekorfoundunseeking—outthere,beyond—beyond!
Footstepsfellonhisear,andthefigureofonethatwalkedsomewhatwearilycameintoview;andhesawthatitwasaRat,andaverydustyone.
Thewayfarer,ashereachedhim,salutedwithagestureofcourtesythathadsomethingforeignaboutit—hesitatedamoment—thenwithapleasantsmileturnedfromthetrackandsatdownbyhissideinthecoolherbage.
Heseemedtired,andtheRatlethimrestunquestioned,understandingsomethingofwhatwasinhisthoughts;knowing,too,thevalueallanimalsattachattimestomeresilentcompanionship,whenthewearymusclesslackenandthemindmarkstime.
Thewayfarerwasleanandkeen-featured,andsomewhatbowedattheshoulders;hispawswerethinandlong,hiseyesmuchwrinkledatthecorners,andheworesmallgoldearringsinhisneatly-setwell-shapedears.
Hisknittedjerseywasofafadedblue,hisbreeches,patchedandstained,werebasedonabluefoundation,andhissmallbelongingsthathecarriedweretiedupinabluecottonhandkerchief.
'Thatwasclover,thatwarmwhiffonthebreeze,'heremarked;'andthosearecowswehearcroppingthegrassbehindusandblowingsoftlybetweenmouthfuls.
Theriverrunssomewherecloseby,forIhearthecallofamoorhen,andIseebyyourbuildthatyou'reafreshwatermariner.
'Yes,it'sTHElife,theonlylife,tolive,'respondedtheWaterRatdreamily,andwithouthisusualwhole-heartedconviction.
AndbecauseI'vejusttriedit—sixmonthsofit—andknowit'sthebest,hereamI,footsoreandhungry,trampingawayfromit,trampingsouthward,followingtheoldcall,backtotheoldlife,THElifewhichismineandwhichwillnotletmego.'
'Isthis,then,yetanotherofthem?'musedtheRat.'Andwherehaveyoujustcomefrom?'heasked.Hehardlydaredtoaskwherehewasboundfor;heseemedtoknowtheansweronlytoowell.
Hisshiningeyesheldfasttothehorizon,andheseemedtobelisteningforsomesoundthatwaswantingfromthatinlandacreage,vocalasitwaswiththecheerfulmusicofpasturageandfarmyard.
'Right,'repliedthestranger.'I'maseafaringrat,Iam,andtheportIoriginallyhailfromisConstantinople,thoughI'masortofaforeignertheretoo,inamannerofspeaking.
Andyoumayhaveheard,too,ofSigurd,KingofNorway,andhowhesailedthitherwithsixtyships,andhowheandhismenrodeupthroughstreetsallcanopiedintheirhonourwithpurpleandgold;andhowtheEmperorandEmpresscamedownandbanquetedwithhimonboardhisship.
WhenSigurdreturnedhome,manyofhisNorthmenremainedbehindandenteredtheEmperor'sbody-guard,andmyancestor,aNorwegianborn,stayedbehindtoo,withtheshipsthatSigurdgavetheEmperor.
Seafarerswehaveeverbeen,andnowonder;asforme,thecityofmybirthisnomoremyhomethananypleasantportbetweenthereandtheLondonRiver.Iknowthemall,andtheyknowme.
'Monthsandmonthsoutofsightofland,andprovisionsrunningshort,andallowancedastowater,andyourmindcommuningwiththemightyocean,andallthatsortofthing?'
'Tellmesomethingofyourcoasting,then,ifyouhaveamindto,andwhatsortofharvestananimalofspiritmighthopetobringhomefromittowarmhislatterdayswithgallantmemoriesbythefireside;formylife,Iconfesstoyou,feelstometo-daysomewhatnarrowandcircumscribed.'
'Mylastvoyage,'begantheSeaRat,'thatlandedmeeventuallyinthiscountry,boundwithhighhopesformyinlandfarm,willserveasagoodexampleofanyofthem,and,indeed,asanepitomeofmyhighly-colouredlife.Familytroubles,asusual,beganit.
Thedomesticstorm-conewashoisted,andIshippedmyselfonboardasmalltradingvesselboundfromConstantinople,byclassicseaswhoseeverywavethrobswithadeathlessmemory,totheGrecianIslandsandtheLevant.
Inandoutofharbourallthetime—oldfriendseverywhere—sleepinginsomecooltempleorruinedcisternduringtheheatoftheday—feastingandsongaftersundown,undergreatstarssetinavelvetsky!
ThenceweturnedandcoasteduptheAdriatic,itsshoresswimminginanatmosphereofamber,rose,andaquamarine;welayinwideland-lockedharbours,weroamedthroughancientandnoblecities,untilatlastonemorning,asthesunroseroyallybehindus,werodeintoVenicedownapathofgold.
Or,whenwearyofwandering,cansitattheedgeoftheGrandCanalatnight,feastingwithhisfriends,whentheairisfullofmusicandtheskyfullofstars,andthelightsflashandshimmeronthepolishedsteelprowsoftheswayinggondolas,packedsothatyoucouldwalkacrossthecanalonthemfromsidetoside!
Hewassilentforatime;andtheWaterRat,silenttooandenthralled,floatedondream-canalsandheardaphantomsongpealinghighbetweenvaporousgreywave-lappedwalls.
'Southwardswesailedagainatlast,'continuedtheSeaRat,'coastingdowntheItalianshore,tillfinallywemadePalermo,andthereIquittedforalong,happyspellonshore.
WhenIgrewrestlessagainItookadvantageofashipthatwastradingtoSardiniaandCorsica;andverygladIwastofeelthefreshbreezeandthesea-sprayinmyfaceoncemore.'
Theseafarerlookedathimwiththesuspiciongoawink.'I'manoldhand,'heremarkedwithmuchsimplicity.'Thecaptain'scabin'sgoodenoughforme.'
WemadeAlassiointheevening,layto,hauledupourwine-casks,andhovethemoverboard,tiedonetotheotherbyalongline.
Thenthecrewtooktotheboatsandrowedshorewards,singingastheywent,anddrawingafterthemthelongbobbingprocessionofcasks,likeamileofporpoises.
Onthesandstheyhadhorseswaiting,whichdraggedthecasksupthesteepstreetofthelittletownwithafinerushandclatterandscramble.
Whenthelastcaskwasin,wewentandrefreshedandrested,andsatlateintothenight,drinkingwithourfriends,andnextmorningItooktothegreatolive-woodsforaspellandarest.
FornowIhaddonewithislandsforthetime,andportsandshippingwereplentiful;soIledalazylifeamongthepeasants,lyingandwatchingthemwork,orstretchedhighonthehillsidewiththeblueMediterraneanfarbelowme.
Andsoatlength,byeasystages,andpartlyonfoot,partlybysea,toMarseilles,andthemeetingofoldshipmates,andthevisitingofgreatocean-boundvessels,andfeastingoncemore.Talkofshell-fish!
'Thatremindsme,'saidthepoliteWaterRat;'youhappenedtomentionthatyouwerehungry,andIoughttohavespokenearlier.
IwasindeedhungrywhenIsatdown,andeversinceIinadvertentlyhappenedtomentionshell-fish,mypangshavebeenextreme.
Iamnonetoofondofgoingunderhatches,unlessI'mobligedto;andthen,whileweeat,IcouldtellyoumoreconcerningmyvoyagesandthepleasantlifeIlead—atleast,itisverypleasanttome,andbyyourattentionIjudgeitcommendsitselftoyou;whereasifwegoindoorsitisahundredtoonethatIshallpresentlyfallasleep.'
Therehegotouttheluncheon-basketandpackedasimplemeal,inwhich,rememberingthestranger'soriginandpreferences,hetookcaretoincludeayardoflongFrenchbread,asausageoutofwhichthegarlicsang,somecheesewhichlaydownandcried,andalong-neckedstraw-coveredflaskwhereinlaybottledsunshineshedandgarneredonfarSouthernslopes.
Thusladen,hereturnedwithallspeed,andblushedforpleasureattheoldseaman'scommendationsofhistasteandjudgment,astogethertheyunpackedthebasketandlaidoutthecontentsonthegrassbytheroadside.
TheSeaRat,assoonashishungerwassomewhatassuaged,continuedthehistoryofhislatestvoyage,conductinghissimplehearerfromporttoportofSpain,landinghimatLisbon,Oporto,andBordeaux,introducinghimtothepleasantharboursofCornwallandDevon,andsouptheChanneltothatfinalquayside,where,landingafterwindslongcontrary,storm-drivenandweather-beaten,hehadcaughtthefirstmagicalhintsandheraldingsofanotherSpring,and,firedbythese,hadspedonalongtrampinland,hungryfortheexperimentoflifeonsomequietfarmstead,veryfarfromthewearybeatingofanysea.
Spell-boundandquiveringwithexcitement,theWaterRatfollowedtheAdventurerleaguebyleague,overstormybays,throughcrowdedroadsteads,acrossharbourbarsonaracingtide,upwindingriversthathidtheirbusylittletownsroundasuddenturn;andlefthimwitharegretfulsighplantedathisdullinlandfarm,aboutwhichhedesiredtohearnothing.
Bythistimetheirmealwasover,andtheSeafarer,refreshedandstrengthened,hisvoicemorevibrant,hiseyelitwithabrightnessthatseemedcaughtfromsomefar-awaysea-beacon,filledhisglasswiththeredandglowingvintageoftheSouth,and,leaningtowardstheWaterRat,compelledhisgazeandheldhim,bodyandsoul,whilehetalked.
Thoseeyeswereofthechangingfoam-streakedgrey-greenofleapingNorthernseas;intheglassshoneahotrubythatseemedtheveryheartoftheSouth,beatingforhimwhohadcouragetorespondtoitspulsation.
Thetwinlights,theshiftinggreyandthesteadfastred,masteredtheWaterRatandheldhimbound,fascinated,powerless.
Andthetalk,thewonderfultalkflowedon—orwasitspeechentirely,ordiditpassattimesintosong—chantyofthesailorsweighingthedrippinganchor,sonoroushumoftheshroudsinatearingNorth-Easter,balladofthefishermanhaulinghisnetsatsundownagainstanapricotsky,chordsofguitarandmandolinefromgondolaorcaique?
Diditchangeintothecryofthewind,plaintiveatfirst,angrilyshrillasitfreshened,risingtoatearingwhistle,sinkingtoamusicaltrickleofairfromtheleechofthebellyingsail?
Allthesesoundsthespell-boundlistenerseemedtohear,andwiththemthehungrycomplaintofthegullsandthesea-mews,thesoftthunderofthebreakingwave,thecryoftheprotestingshingle.
Backintospeechagainitpassed,andwithbeatinghearthewasfollowingtheadventuresofadozenseaports,thefights,theescapes,therallies,thecomradeships,thegallantundertakings;orhesearchedislandsfortreasure,fishedinstilllagoonsanddozedday-longonwarmwhitesand.
Ofdeep-seafishingsheheardtell,andmightysilvergatheringsofthemile-longnet;ofsuddenperils,noiseofbreakersonamoonlessnight,orthetallbowsofthegreatlinertakingshapeoverheadthroughthefog;ofthemerryhome-coming,theheadlandrounded,theharbourlightsopenedout;thegroupsseendimlyonthequay,thecheeryhail,thesplashofthehawser;thetrudgeupthesteeplittlestreettowardsthecomfortingglowofred-curtainedwindows.
Lastly,inhiswakingdreamitseemedtohimthattheAdventurerhadrisentohisfeet,butwasstillspeaking,stillholdinghimfastwithhissea-greyeyes.
'Andnow,'hewassoftlysaying,'Itaketotheroadagain,holdingonsouthwestwardsformanyalonganddustyday;tillatlastIreachthelittlegreyseatownIknowsowell,thatclingsalongonesteepsideoftheharbour.
Therethroughdarkdoorwaysyoulookdownflightsofstonesteps,overhungbygreatpinktuftsofvalerianandendinginapatchofsparklingbluewater.
Thelittleboatsthatlietetheredtotheringsandstanchionsoftheoldsea-wallaregailypaintedasthoseIclamberedinandoutofinmyownchildhood;thesalmonleaponthefloodtide,schoolsofmackerelflashandplaypastquay-sidesandforeshores,andbythewindowsthegreatvesselsglide,nightandday,uptotheirmooringsorforthtotheopensea.
There,soonerorlater,theshipsofallseafaringnationsarrive;andthere,atitsdestinedhour,theshipofmychoicewillletgoitsanchor.
Ishalltakemytime,Ishalltarryandbide,tillatlasttherightonelieswaitingforme,warpedoutintomidstream,loadedlow,herbowspritpointingdownharbour.
Ishallsliponboard,byboatoralonghawser;andthenonemorningIshallwaketothesongandtrampofthesailors,theclinkofthecapstan,andtherattleoftheanchor-chaincomingmerrilyin.
Weshallbreakoutthejibandtheforesail,thewhitehousesontheharboursidewillglideslowlypastusasshegatherssteering-way,andthevoyagewillhavebegun!
Assheforgestowardstheheadlandshewillclotheherselfwithcanvas;andthen,onceoutside,thesoundingslapofgreatgreenseasassheheelstothewind,pointingSouth!
Thensomeday,somedaylonghence,joghomehereifyouwill,whenthecuphasbeendrainedandtheplayhasbeenplayed,andsitdownbyyourquietriverwithastoreofgoodlymemoriesforcompany.
Iwilllinger,andlookback;andatlastIwillsurelyseeyoucoming,eagerandlight-hearted,withalltheSouthinyourface!'
Thevoicediedawayandceasedasaninsect'stinytrumpetdwindlesswiftlyintosilence;andtheWaterRat,paralysedandstaring,sawatlastbutadistantspeckonthewhitesurfaceoftheroad.
Mechanicallyhereturnedhome,gatheredtogetherafewsmallnecessariesandspecialtreasureshewasfondof,andputtheminasatchel;actingwithslowdeliberation,movingabouttheroomlikeasleep-walker;listeningeverwithpartedlips.
Heswungthesatcheloverhisshoulder,carefullyselectedastoutstickforhiswayfaring,andwithnohaste,butwithnohesitationatall,hesteppedacrossthethresholdjustastheMoleappearedatthedoor.
'GoingSouth,withtherestofthem,'murmuredtheRatinadreamymonotone,neverlookingathim.'Seawardsfirstandthenonshipboard,andsototheshoresthatarecallingme!'
Hepressedresolutelyforward,stillwithouthaste,butwithdoggedfixityofpurpose;buttheMole,nowthoroughlyalarmed,placedhimselfinfrontofhim,andlookingintohiseyessawthattheywereglazedandsetandturnedastreakedandshiftinggrey—nothisfriend'seyes,buttheeyesofsomeotheranimal!
TheRatstruggleddesperatelyforafewmoments,andthenhisstrengthseemedsuddenlytoleavehim,andhelaystillandexhausted,withclosedeyes,trembling.
PresentlytheMoleassistedhimtoriseandplacedhiminachair,wherehesatcollapsedandshrunkenintohimself,hisbodyshakenbyaviolentshivering,passingintimeintoanhystericalfitofdrysobbing.
Molemadethedoorfast,threwthesatchelintoadrawerandlockedit,andsatdownquietlyonthetablebyhisfriend,waitingforthestrangeseizuretopass.
GraduallytheRatsankintoatroubleddoze,brokenbystartsandconfusedmurmuringsofthingsstrangeandwildandforeigntotheunenlightenedMole;andfromthathepassedintoadeepslumber.
Veryanxiousinmind,theMolelefthimforatimeandbusiedhimselfwithhouseholdmatters;anditwasgettingdarkwhenhereturnedtotheparlourandfoundtheRatwherehehadlefthim,wideawakeindeed,butlistless,silent,anddejected.
Hetookonehastyglanceathiseyes;foundthem,tohisgreatgratification,clearanddarkandbrownagainasbefore;andthensatdownandtriedtocheerhimupandhelphimtorelatewhathadhappenedtohim.
PoorRattydidhisbest,bydegrees,toexplainthings;buthowcouldheputintocoldwordswhathadmostlybeensuggestion?
Howrecall,foranother'sbenefit,thehauntingseavoicesthathadsungtohim,howreproduceatsecond-handthemagicoftheSeafarer'shundredreminiscences?
Eventohimself,nowthespellwasbrokenandtheglamourgone,hefounditdifficulttoaccountforwhathadseemed,somehoursago,theinevitableandonlything.
TotheMolethismuchwasplain:thefit,orattack,hadpassedaway,andhadlefthimsaneagain,thoughshakenandcastdownbythereaction.
Butheseemedtohavelostallinterestforthetimeinthethingsthatwenttomakeuphisdailylife,aswellasinallpleasantforecastingsofthealtereddaysanddoingsthatthechangingseasonwassurelybringing.
Casually,then,andwithseemingindifference,theMoleturnedhistalktotheharvestthatwasbeinggatheredin,thetoweringwagonsandtheirstrainingteams,thegrowingricks,andthelargemoonrisingoverbareacresdottedwithsheaves.
Hetalkedofthereddeningapplesaround,ofthebrowningnuts,ofjamsandpreservesandthedistillingofcordials;tillbyeasystagessuchasthesehereachedmidwinter,itsheartyjoysanditssnughomelife,andthenhebecamesimplylyrical.
PresentlythetactfulMoleslippedawayandreturnedwithapencilandafewhalf-sheetsofpaper,whichheplacedonthetableathisfriend'selbow.
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