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him。 There was nothing else to be done。 At any rate； I had learnt
something； and if I had had the luck to meet any of 〃Them〃 I'd have learnt
something moreor THEY would。'
‘Weren't you at allernervous？' asked the Mole； some of yesterday's
terror coming back to him at the mention of the Wild Wood。
‘Nervous？' The Otter showed a gleaming set of strong white teeth as
he laughed。 ‘I'd give 'em nerves if any of them tried anything on with me。
Here； Mole； fry me some slices of ham； like the good little chap you are。
I'm frightfully hungry； and I've got any amount to say to Ratty here。
Haven't seen him for an age。'
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So the good…natured Mole； having cut some slices of ham； set the
hedgehogs to fry it； and returned to his own breakfast； while the Otter and
the Rat； their heads together； eagerly talked river… shop； which is long shop
and talk that is endless； running on like the babbling river itself。
A plate of fried ham had just been cleared and sent back for more；
when the Badger entered； yawning and rubbing his eyes； and greeted them
all in his quiet； simple way； with kind enquiries for every one。 ‘It must be
getting on for luncheon time；' he remarked to the Otter。 ‘Better stop and
have it with us。 You must be hungry； this cold morning。'
‘Rather！' replied the Otter； winking at the Mole。 ‘The sight of these
greedy young hedgehogs stuffing themselves with fried ham makes me
feel positively famished。'
The hedgehogs； who were just beginning to feel hungry again after
their porridge； and after working so hard at their frying； looked timidly up
at Mr。 Badger； but were too shy to say anything。
‘Here； you two youngsters be off home to your mother；' said the
Badger kindly。 ‘I'll send some one with you to show you the way。 You
won't want any dinner to…day； I'll be bound。'
He gave them sixpence apiece and a pat on the head； and they went off
with much respectful swinging of caps and touching of forelocks。
Presently they all sat down to luncheon together。 The Mole found
himself placed next to Mr。 Badger； and； as the other two were still deep in
river…gossip from which nothing could divert them； he took the
opportunity to tell Badger how comfortable and home… like it all felt to
him。 ‘Once well underground；' he said； ‘you know exactly where you are。
Nothing can happen to you； and nothing can get at you。 You're entirely
your own master； and you don't have to consult anybody or mind what
they say。 Things go on all the same overhead； and you let 'em； and don't
bother about 'em。 When you want to； up you go； and there the things are；
waiting for you。'
The Badger simply beamed on him。 ‘That's exactly what I say；' he
replied。 ‘There's no security； or peace and tranquillity； except underground。
And then； if your ideas get larger and you want to expandwhy； a dig and
a scrape； and there you are！ If you feel your house is a bit too big； you stop
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up a hole or two； and there you are again！ No builders； no tradesmen； no
remarks passed on you by fellows looking over your wall； and； above all；
no WEATHER。 Look at Rat； now。 A couple of feet of flood water； and he's
got to move into hired lodgings； uncomfortable； inconveniently situated；
and horribly expensive。 Take Toad。 I say nothing against Toad Hall； quite
the best house in these parts； AS a house。 But supposing a fire breaks out
where's Toad？ Supposing tiles are blown off； or walls sink or crack； or
windows get brokenwhere's Toad？ Supposing the rooms are draughtyI
HATE a draught myselfwhere's Toad？ No； up and out of doors is good
enough to roam about and get one's living in； but underground to come
back to at lastthat's my idea of HOME'
The Mole assented heartily； and the Badger in consequence got very
friendly with him。 ‘When lunch is over；' he said； ‘I'll take you all round
this little place of mine。 I can see you'll appreciate it。 You understand what
domestic architecture ought to be； you do。'
After luncheon； accordingly； when the other two had settled
themselves into the chimney…corner and had started a heated argument on
the subject of EELS； the Badger lighted a lantern and bade the Mole
follow him。 Crossing the hall； they passed down one of the principal
tunnels； and the wavering light of the lantern gave glimpses on either side
of rooms both large and small； some mere cupboards； others nearly as
broad and imposing as Toad's dining…hall。 A narrow passage at right angles
led them into another corridor； and here the same thing was repeated。 The
Mole was staggered at the size； the extent； the ramifications of it all； at the
length of the dim passages； the solid vaultings of the crammed store…
chambers； the masonry everywhere； the pillars； the arches； the pavements。
‘How on earth； Badger；' he said at last； ‘did you ever find time and
strength to do all this？ It's astonishing！'
‘It WOULD be astonishing indeed；' said the Badger simply； ‘if I HAD
done it。 But as a matter of fact I did none of itonly cleaned out the
passages and chambers； as far as I had need of them。 There's lots more of
it； all round about。 I see you don't understand； and I must explain it to you。
Well； very long ago； on the spot where the Wild Wood waves now； before
ever it had planted itself and grown up to what it now is； there was a city
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a city of people； you know。 Here； where we are standing； they lived； and
walked； and talked； and slept； and carried on their business。 Here they
stabled their horses and feasted； from here they rode out to fight or drove
out to trade。 They were a powerful people； and rich； and great builders。
They built to last； for they thought their city would last for ever。'
‘But what has become of them all？' asked the Mole。
‘Who can tell？' said the Badger。 ‘People comethey stay for a while；
they flourish； they buildand they go。 It is their way。 But we remain。
There were badgers here； I've been told； long before that same city ever
came to be。 And now there are badgers here again。 We are an enduring lot；
and we may move out for a time； but we wait； and are patient； and back
we come。 And so it will ever be。'
‘Well； and when they went at last； those people？' said the Mole。
‘When they went；' continued the Badger； ‘the strong winds and
persistent rains took the matter in hand； patiently； ceaselessly； year after
year。 Perhaps we badgers too； in our small way； helped a littlewho knows？
It was all down； down； down； graduallyruin and levelling and
disappearance。 Then it was all up； up； up； gradually； as seeds grew to
saplings； and saplings to forest trees； and bramble and fern came creeping
in to help。 Leaf…mould rose and obliterated； streams in their winter freshets
brought sand and soil to clog and to cover； and in course of time our ho