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stronger even than the music is sweet！ Row on； Mole； row！ For the music
and the call must be for us。'
The Mole； greatly wondering； obeyed。 ‘I hear nothing myself；' he said；
‘but the wind playing in the reeds and rushes and osiers。'
The Rat never answered； if indeed he heard。 Rapt； transported；
trembling； he was possessed in all his senses by this new divine thing that
caught up his helpless soul and swung and dandled it； a powerless but
happy infant in a strong sustaining grasp。
In silence Mole rowed steadily； and soon they came to a point where
the river divided； a long backwater branching off to one side。 With a slight
movement of his head Rat； who had long dropped the rudder…lines；
directed the rower to take the backwater。 The creeping tide of light gained
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and gained； and now they could see the colour of the flowers that gemmed
the water's edge。
‘Clearer and nearer still；' cried the Rat joyously。 ‘Now you must surely
hear it！ Ahat lastI see you do！'
Breathless and transfixed the Mole stopped rowing as the liquid run of
that glad piping broke on him like a wave； caught him up； and possessed
him utterly。 He saw the tears on his comrade's cheeks； and bowed his head
and understood。 For a space they hung there； brushed by the purple loose…
strife that fringed the bank； then the clear imperious summons that
marched hand…in…hand with the intoxicating melody imposed its will on
Mole； and mechanically he bent to his oars again。 And the light grew
steadily stronger； but no birds sang as they were wont to do at the
approach of dawn； and but for the heavenly music all was marvellously
still。
On either side of them； as they glided onwards； the rich meadow…grass
seemed that morning of a freshness and a greenness unsurpassable。 Never
had they noticed the roses so vivid； the willow…herb so riotous； the
meadow…sweet so odorous and pervading。 Then the murmur of the
approaching weir began to hold the air； and they felt a consciousness that
they were nearing the end； whatever it might be； that surely awaited their
expedition。
A wide half…circle of foam and glinting lights and shining shoulders of
green water； the great weir closed the backwater from bank to bank；
troubled all the quiet surface with twirling eddies and floating foam…
streaks； and deadened all other sounds with its solemn and soothing
rumble。 In midmost of the stream； embraced in the weir's shimmering
arm…spread； a small island lay anchored； fringed close with willow and
silver birch and alder。 Reserved； shy； but full of significance； it hid
whatever it might hold behind a veil； keeping it till the hour should come；
and； with the hour； those who were called and chosen。
Slowly； but with no doubt or hesitation whatever； and in something of
a solemn expectancy； the two animals passed through the broken
tumultuous water and moored their boat at the flowery margin of the
island。 In silence they landed； and pushed through the blossom and
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
scented herbage and undergrowth that led up to the level ground； till they
stood on a little lawn of a marvellous green； set round with Nature's own
orchard…trees crab…apple； wild cherry； and sloe。
‘This is the place of my song…dream； the place the music played to me；'
whispered the Rat； as if in a trance。 ‘Here； in this holy place； here if
anywhere； surely we shall find Him！'
Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him； an awe that
turned his muscles to water； bowed his head； and rooted his feet to the
ground。 It was no panic terrorindeed he felt wonderfully at peace and
happybut it was an awe that smote and held him and； without seeing； he
knew it could only mean that some august Presence was very； very near。
With difficulty he turned to look for his friend。 and saw him at his side
cowed； stricken； and trembling violently。 And still there was utter silence
in the populous bird…haunted branches around them； and still the light
grew and grew。
Perhaps he would never have dared to raise his eyes； but that； though
the piping was now hushed； the call and the summons seemed still
dominant and imperious。 He might not refuse； were Death himself waiting
to strike him instantly； once he had looked with mortal eye on things
rightly kept hidden。 Trembling he obeyed； and raised his humble head； and
then； in that utter clearness of the imminent dawn； while Nature； flushed
with fulness of incredible colour； seemed to hold her breath for the event；
he looked in the very eyes of the Friend and Helper； saw the backward
sweep of the curved horns； gleaming in the growing daylight； saw the
stern； hooked nose between the kindly eyes that were looking down on
them humourously； while the bearded mouth broke into a half…smile at the
corners； saw the rippling muscles on the arm that lay across the broad
chest； the long supple hand still holding the pan…pipes only just fallen
away from the parted lips； saw the splendid curves of the shaggy limbs
disposed in majestic ease on the sward； saw； last of all； nestling between
his very hooves； sleeping soundly in entire peace and contentment； the
little； round； podgy； childish form of the baby otter。 All this he saw； for one
moment breathless and intense； vivid on the morning sky； and still； as he
looked； he lived； and still； as he lived； he wondered。
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‘Rat！' he found breath to whisper； shaking。 ‘Are you afraid？'
‘Afraid？' murmured the Rat； his eyes shining with unutterable love。
‘Afraid！ Of HIM？ O； never； never！ And yetand yet O； Mole； I am
afraid！'
Then the two animals； crouching to the earth； bowed their heads and
did worship。
Sudden and magnificent； the sun's broad golden disc showed itself
over the horizon facing them； and the first rays； shooting across the level
water…meadows； took the animals full in the eyes and dazzled them。 When
they were able to look once more； the Vision had vanished； and the air was
full of the carol of birds that hailed the dawn。
As they stared blankly。 in dumb misery deepening as they slowly
realised all they had seen and all they had lost； a capricious little breeze；
dancing up from the surface of the water； tossed the aspens； shook the
dewy roses and blew lightly and caressingly in their faces； and with its
soft touch came instant oblivion。 For this is the last best gift that the kindly
demi… god is careful to bestow on those to whom he has revealed himself
in their helping： the gift of forgetfulness。 Lest the awful remembrance
should remain and grow； and overshadow mirth and pleasu