按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
brought sand and soil to clog and to cover； and in course of time our home
was ready for us again； and we moved in。 Up above us； on the surface； the
same thing happened。 Animals arrived； liked the look of the place； took up
their quarters； settled down； spread； and flourished。 They didn't bother
themselves about the pastthey never do； they're too busy。 The place was
a bit humpy and hillocky； naturally； and full of holes； but that was rather
an advantage。 And they don't bother about the future； either the future
when perhaps the people will move in againfor a timeas may very well
be。 The Wild Wood is pretty well populated by now； with all the usual lot；
good； bad； and indifferentI name no names。 It takes all sorts to make a
world。 But I fancy you know something about them yourself by this time。'
‘I do indeed；' said the Mole； with a slight shiver。
‘Well； well；' said the Badger； patting him on the shoulder； ‘it was your
first experience of them； you see。 They're not so bad really； and we must
45
… Page 46…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
all live and let live。 But I'll pass the word around to…morrow； and I think
you'll have no further trouble。 Any friend of MINE walks where he likes
in this country； or I'll know the reason why！'
When they got back to the kitchen again； they found the Rat walking
up and down； very restless。 The underground atmosphere was oppressing
him and getting on his nerves； and he seemed really to be afraid that the
river would run away if he wasn't there to look after it。 So he had his
overcoat on； and his pistols thrust into his belt again。 ‘Come along； Mole；'
he said anxiously； as soon as he caught sight of them。 ‘We must get off
while it's daylight。 Don't want to spend another night in the Wild Wood
again。'
‘It'll be all right； my fine fellow；' said the Otter。 ‘I'm coming along with
you； and I know every path blindfold； and if there's a head that needs to be
punched； you can confidently rely upon me to punch it。'
‘You really needn't fret； Ratty；' added the Badger placidly。 ‘My
passages run further than you think； and I've bolt…holes to the edge of the
wood in several directions； though I don't care for everybody to know
about them。 When you really have to go； you shall leave by one of my
short cuts。 Meantime； make yourself easy； and sit down again。'
The Rat was nevertheless still anxious to be off and attend to his river；
so the Badger； taking up his lantern again； led the way along a damp and
airless tunnel that wound and dipped； part vaulted； part hewn through solid
rock； for a weary distance that seemed to be miles。 At last daylight began
to show itself confusedly through tangled growth overhanging the mouth
of the passage； and the Badger； bidding them a hasty good…bye； pushed
them hurriedly through the opening； made everything look as natural as
possible again； with creepers； brushwood； and dead leaves； and retreated。
They found themselves standing on the very edge of the Wild Wood。
Rocks and brambles and tree…roots behind them； confusedly heaped and
tangled； in front； a great space of quiet fields； hemmed by lines of hedges
black on the snow； and； far ahead； a glint of the familiar old river； while
the wintry sun hung red and low on the horizon。 The Otter； as knowing all
the paths； took charge of the party； and they trailed out on a bee…line for a
distant stile。 Pausing there a moment and looking back； they saw the
46
… Page 47…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
whole mass of the Wild Wood； dense； menacing； compact； grimly set in
vast white surroundings； simultaneously they turned and made swiftly for
home； for firelight and the familiar things it played on； for the voice；
sounding cheerily outside their window； of the river that they knew and
trusted in all its moods； that never made them afraid with any amazement。
As he hurried along； eagerly anticipating the moment when he would
be at home again among the things he knew and liked； the Mole saw
clearly that he was an animal of tilled field and hedge… row； linked to the
ploughed furrow； the frequented pasture； the lane of evening lingerings；
the cultivated garden…plot。 For others the asperities； the stubborn
endurance； or the clash of actual conflict； that went with Nature in the
rough； he must be wise； must keep to the pleasant places in which his lines
were laid and which held adventure enough； in their way； to last for a
lifetime。
47
… Page 48…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CHAPTER V
DULCE DOMUM
The sheep ran huddling together against the hurdles； blowing out thin
nostrils and stamping with delicate fore…feet； their heads thrown back and
a light steam rising from the crowded sheep…pen into the frosty air； as the
two animals hastened by in high spirits； with much chatter and laughter。
They were returning across country after a long day's outing with Otter；
hunting and exploring on the wide uplands where certain streams tributary
to their own River had their first small beginnings； and the shades of the
short winter day were closing in on them； and they had still some distance
to go。 Plodding at random across the plough； they had heard the sheep and
had made for them； and now； leading from the sheep…pen； they found a
beaten track that made walking a lighter business； and responded；
moreover； to that small inquiring something which all animals carry inside
them； saying unmistakably； ‘Yes； quite right； THIS leads home！'
‘It looks as if we were coming to a village；' said the Mole somewhat
dubiously； slackening his pace； as the track； that had in time become a path
and then had developed into a lane； now handed them over to the charge of
a well…metalled road。 The animals did not hold with villages； and their
own highways； thickly frequented as they were； took an independent
course； regardless of church； post office； or public…house。
‘Oh； never mind！' said the Rat。 ‘At this season of the year they're all
safe indoors by this time； sitting round the fire； men； women； and children；
dogs and cats and all。 We shall slip through all right； without any bother or
unpleasantness； and we can have a look at them through their windows if
you like； and see what they're doing。'
The rapid nightfall of mid…December had quite beset the little village
as they approached it on soft feet over a first thin fall of powdery snow。
Little was visible but squares of a dusky orange…red on either side of the
street； where the firelight or lamplight of each cottage overflowed through
the casements into the dark world without。 Most of the low latticed
48
… Page 49…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
windows were innocent of blinds； and to the lookers…in from outside； the
inmates； gathered round the tea…table； absorbed in handiwork； or talking
with laughter and gesture； had each that happy grace which is the last
thing the skilled actor shall capturethe natural grace which goes