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say. Have

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a really lovely story for

4:02

it, And I am. It's

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one of my favorites. And

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down it's actually the first

4:09

episode that ever aired on

4:11

Sleepy. And the

4:13

reason I'm reading this wonderful book

4:15

to tonight's The Wind in the

4:18

Willows. A because it's my

4:20

favorite. And be so

4:22

many sleepy listeners. Love the

4:24

Went in the Willows, understandably.

4:27

And of ask for more of it. And

4:30

while I'm not gonna be reading the

4:32

rest of The Wind in the Willows

4:34

on this podcast, you actually can hear

4:37

the entirety of The Wind in the

4:39

Willows on the Daily Book on. The.

4:42

New show that I just started which

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is the daytime companion to the So.

4:47

If you want to. Listen

4:49

to the entirety of the when in the

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well as one chapter at a time. Even

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go find the daily book club on

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else. Is just more content for

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you to relax, doom, or get lost in

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these stories. Have you want to listen? Totally

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up to you? I am

5:07

very excited to be bring you this

5:09

all story tonight. And

5:12

before I get to the bedtime reading,

5:14

ah, I just want to thank all

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of our brand new patrons unpaid yeah.com.

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Which. Is a website where you can go and

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the split them up and to read

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For this week, I would love to

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Thank you so so much for donating and

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Radio. Thank you. And

6:46

as always, the music you're hearing is by

6:48

my good friend James Lepkowski, and

6:50

the cover art for Sleepy is by Gracie

6:52

Kanin. So,

6:56

like I said, we will

6:58

be hearing The Wind in the

7:00

Willows by Kenneth Graham tonight. This

7:04

is the first episode that was

7:06

ever on the Sleepy podcast, which

7:09

is truly wild to listen

7:12

to since it was six,

7:15

seven years ago. And it's just really

7:17

funny to know how much it

7:20

has grown since then, and also

7:23

to hear how different my voice sounds.

7:26

I know a lot of people like the

7:28

early episodes, so I

7:32

hope you like hearing this tonight. My

7:34

voice, I feel like has changed quite a bit,

7:36

but I don't know, maybe

7:38

that's just me. Regardless,

7:41

The Wind in the Willows is

7:43

one of my favorite books of all time,

7:45

so I really hope you like falling asleep to

7:47

it. And again, if you want to hear

7:49

the rest of the book, just go check

7:51

out the Daily Book Club. But

7:53

now is the time for you to fluff

7:56

up your pillow, just how you

7:59

like it. Feel yourself. I'll melt into your bed. Get

8:03

real comfortable. Close

8:06

your eyes and

8:08

let me read to you. Chapter

8:22

1 The Riverbank The

8:26

Mole had been working very hard all morning,

8:28

spring cleaning his little home. First

8:30

with brooms, then with dusters, then

8:33

on ladders and steps and chairs, with

8:35

a brush and a pail of whitewash till

8:38

he had dust in his throat and eyes, splashes

8:40

of whitewash all over his black fur, and

8:44

an aching back and weary arms. Spring

8:46

was moving in the air and in the

8:48

earth below and around him, penetrating

8:50

even his dark and lowly little

8:52

house with its spirit of divine

8:54

discontent and longing. It

8:57

was a small wonder, then, that he

8:59

suddenly flung down his brush on the

9:01

floor, said, Father, and

9:03

O blow, and also, Hang

9:06

spring cleaning, and bolted out

9:08

of his house without even waiting to put on his coat.

9:11

Something up above was calling him imperiously,

9:14

and he made for the steep little tunnel which

9:17

answered in his case to the

9:19

graveled carriage drive owned by animals whose

9:21

resonances are nearer to the sun and

9:23

air. So he scraped

9:25

and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged,

9:28

and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and

9:30

scratched and scraped, working busily

9:33

with his little paws and

9:35

muttering to himself, Up we go,

9:37

up we go, till

9:40

at last, pop. His

9:42

snout came out into the sunlight and he found

9:44

himself rolling in the warm grass of a

9:46

great meadow. This is

9:48

fine, he said to himself. This

9:51

is better than whitewashing. The

9:53

sunshine struck hot on his fur, soft

9:56

breezes caressed his heated brow,

9:58

and after the seclusion, of the

10:00

cellarage he had lived and saw along

10:02

the carol of happy birds, and all in

10:04

his dull hearing,

10:07

all slick as show. Jumping off all his forelegs

10:09

at once, in the joy of living,

10:11

and at the light of spring without its cleaning,

10:14

he pursued his way across the meadow until he

10:16

reached the edge of the further

10:20

side. Hold up, said an elderly rabbit at the gap, his

10:22

expense for the privilege of passing by the

10:24

private road. He was bowled

10:27

over in an instant, and then

10:29

patient and contemptuous moored, who trotted

10:31

alongside the hedge, chafing the other

10:33

rabbits as they peeped hurriedly at their halls

10:35

to see what the row was about. Onion

10:38

sauce, onion sauce, he

10:40

remarked, tearingly. When it was

10:43

gone before they could think of a thoroughly satisfactory

10:45

reply. Then

10:47

they all started grumbling at each other. How

10:50

stupid you are. Why didn't you tell him? Well, why

10:52

didn't you say? It

10:55

all seemed too good to be true. Hither and thither, said

10:57

the meadows he rambled busily, along the

10:59

hedgerows, across the corpses, finding

11:03

everywhere birds building, flowers budding, leaves thrusting,

11:05

everywhere happy and

11:09

progressive and occupied. Instead of having an uneasy conscience,

11:12

pricking him and whispering, whitewash, he somehow could

11:17

only feel how jolly it was to be the only idle

11:19

dog among all these busy citizens. After

11:25

all, the best part of the

11:27

holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting

11:29

yourself. This

11:39

is how the other fellow is busy working. He

11:42

thought his happiness was complete when,

11:44

as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly

11:47

he stood by the edge of

11:49

a full-fed river. Never in

11:51

his life had he seen a river before. This

11:54

sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal,

11:57

chasing and chuckling, gripping things

11:59

with a gurgle. and leaving them with a

12:01

laugh, the fling itself on fresh

12:03

playmates that shook themselves free and

12:06

were caught and held again. All

12:08

was a shake and all was a shiver, glints

12:11

and gleams and sparkles, rustle

12:14

and swirl, chatter and bubble. The

12:17

mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated.

12:21

By the side of the river he trotted as one

12:23

trots, one very small by

12:25

the side of a man who holds one

12:27

spell bound by exciting stories, and

12:30

when tired at last he sat on the bank while

12:33

the river still chatted on to him. A

12:35

babbling procession of the best stories in

12:37

the world sent from the heart of

12:40

the earth to be told at last

12:42

to the insect you will see. As

12:45

he sat on the grass and looked across the river, a

12:48

dark hole in the bank opposite, just

12:50

above the water's hedge, caught his eye. Extremely,

12:54

he fell to considering what a nice snug,

12:56

dwelling place it would make for an animal with

12:59

a few wants and fond of Bijou riverside

13:02

residents, above flood level

13:04

and remote from noise and dust. As

13:07

he gazed, something bright and small

13:09

seemed to twinkle down in the heart of it,

13:12

vanished and twinkled once more like

13:14

a tiny star. But it

13:17

could hardly be a star in such an

13:19

unlikely situation, when it was too

13:21

glittering and small for a glowworm. Then,

13:24

as he looked, he winked at

13:26

him, and so declared itself

13:29

to be an eye, as

13:31

his small face began gradually to grow up

13:33

around it, like a frame round

13:35

a picture, a brown

13:37

little face with whiskers, a

13:40

gray-brown face with the same twink on its

13:42

eye that at first attracted his

13:44

notice. Small, neat

13:46

ears and thick, silky hair. It

13:49

was the water rat. Then

13:51

the two animals stood and regarded each

13:53

other cautiously. Hello, Mole,

13:55

said the water rat. Hello,

13:57

Rat, said the Mole. would

14:00

he like to come over?" inquired the rat

14:02

presently. "'Oh, it's all

14:04

very well as it talks,' said the Mole, rather

14:07

patiously, he being new

14:09

to a river and riverside life in its

14:11

ways." The rat said

14:13

nothing, but stooped and unfastened

14:15

a rope and hole on it, then

14:18

lightly stepped into a little boat, which

14:20

the Mole had not observed. It

14:23

was painted blue outside and white within, and it

14:26

was just a size for two animals. And

14:29

the Mole's whole heart went out to it

14:31

at once, even though he did

14:33

not yet fully understand its uses. The

14:36

rat sculled smartly across and made

14:38

fast, then he held up his

14:40

forepaw as the Mole stepped gingerly

14:42

down. Lean on that, he said. Now then,

14:44

step lively. of a real

14:46

boat. Do you know

14:48

I've never been in a boat before in all

14:50

my life?" What?

15:05

Cried the rat, open mouth. "'Never

15:08

been in a—you never—well,

15:10

I—what have you been doing then?" "'Is

15:13

it so nice as all that?' asked

15:15

the Mole shyly, though he was quite prepared

15:18

to believe it, as he leaped

15:20

back in his seat and surveyed the

15:22

cushions, the oars, the rolocks, and

15:24

all the fascinating fittings and felt the boat

15:26

sway lightly under him. "'Nice

15:30

is the only thing,' said the water

15:32

rat solemnly, as he leaped

15:34

forward for his stroke.

15:36

"'Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing.' "'Absolutely nothing. Simply

15:40

missing.' He went on dreamly. "'Missing about

15:42

in boats. Messing.' Look ahead, rat!'

15:45

Cried the Mole suddenly. It was too late. The boat struck the

15:47

bank full till. The dream was there, and the boat was there. "' The

16:00

dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay

16:02

on his back on the bottom of the boat, his

16:04

heels in the air. A

16:06

mountain boats, or with boats, the

16:09

rat went on composedly, picking

16:11

himself up with a pleasant laugh. In

16:14

or out of him, it doesn't matter. Nothing

16:17

seems to really matter. That's the truth.

16:20

Whether you get away, or whether you don't,

16:23

whether you arrive at your destination, or whether

16:25

you reach somewhere else, or whether

16:27

you never get anywhere at all, your own life

16:30

is always busy. And you never do

16:32

anything in particular. And when you've done

16:34

it, there's always something else to do.

16:37

And you can do it if you like, but you'd

16:39

much better not. Look

16:42

here, if you've really nothing else on

16:44

hand this morning. Supposing

16:46

we drop down the river together and have a

16:48

long day of it. The

16:50

mole waddled his toes from sheer happiness,

16:52

spread his chest with a sigh of

16:54

full contentment, and leaned back

16:57

blissfully into the soft cushions. By

16:59

the day I'm having, he said, let

17:02

us start at once. Hold

17:04

hard a minute then, said the rat. He

17:07

looped up the painter and threw a ring in

17:09

his landing stage. He climbed

17:11

into the hole above, and after

17:13

a short interval reappeared, staggering under

17:15

a fat wicker luncheon basket. Shove

17:18

that under your feet, he observed the mole, and

17:21

he passed it down to the boat. Then

17:24

he untied the painter and took his skulls

17:26

again. What's inside

17:28

it, Esthemal, wriggling with curiosity?

17:31

This cold chicken inside it, replied the

17:33

rat briefly. Cold tongue,

17:36

cold ham, cold beef, pickled her.

17:38

Gherkin salad, French rolls, crust sandwiches,

17:40

potted meat, ginger beer, lemonade, soda

17:43

water. Oh, stop, stop, cried the

17:45

mole and exorcise. This

17:47

is too much. Do you really

17:50

think so? Inquired the rat seriously? It's

17:52

only what I always take on these little excursions.

17:55

And the other animals are always telling me that

17:57

I'm a mean beast and cut it very well.

18:01

The Mole never heard a word he was saying. Absorbed

18:04

in this new life he entered upon, intoxicated

18:07

with a sparkle, a

18:09

ripple, the sense in the sounds

18:11

of the sunlight. He trailed

18:13

upon the water and dreamed long waking

18:15

dreams. The water-rat, like

18:18

a good little fellow he was, sculled

18:20

steadily on and forbore to disturb

18:23

him. I like

18:25

your clothes awfully, old chap. You

18:27

are marked after some half an hour or so past.

18:30

I'm going to get a black velvet smoking

18:32

suit myself one day, as

18:34

soon as I can afford it." I

18:36

beg your pardon, said the Mole. I

18:42

beg your pardon, said the Mole, pulling himself

18:44

together with an effort. You

18:47

must thank me very rude, but all

18:49

this is so new to me. So

18:52

this is a river. The

18:55

river corrected the Rat. And

18:57

you really live by the river? What

19:00

a jolly life! By

19:02

it, with it, and on it, and in it, said

19:04

the Rat. It's brother and

19:06

sister to me, and aunts, and

19:09

company, and food, and drink, and

19:11

naturally washing, is my world,

19:14

and I don't want any other. And

19:16

what it hasn't got is not worth knowing, and

19:19

what it doesn't know is not worth knowing

19:22

nor is the times we've had together. Whether

19:25

in winter or summer, spring or

19:27

autumn, it's always got its fun and

19:29

excitement. When the floods are

19:31

on in February, and my cellars

19:33

and basement are brimming with drink that's no

19:35

good to me, and the brown water runs

19:38

my best bedroom window, or

19:40

again when it all drops away and shows

19:42

patches of mud that smell like plum cake,

19:45

and the rushes and weed clog the channels,

19:48

and I can potter about dry shot over most of

19:50

the bed of it, and find fresh

19:52

food to eat, and things careless people

19:54

have dropped out of boats. But

19:57

isn't it a bit dull sometimes? The

19:59

mole bench. to ask. Just you

20:01

and the river, and no one else

20:03

to pass a word with. No

20:06

one else to?" "'Well, I mustn't be hard

20:08

on you,' said the Rat with forbearance. "'You're

20:11

new to it.' "'And of course you don't know.'

20:14

"'The bank is so crowded nowadays that many

20:17

people are moving away altogether.'

20:19

"'Oh no, it isn't what it used to be at all.' "'Odders,

20:22

kingfishers, dab chicks, moorhens.

20:25

All of them, about all day long, and

20:27

always wanting you to do something.' "'As

20:30

if a fellow had no business of his own to

20:32

attend to.' "'What lies

20:34

over there?' asked the Mole, waving apart

20:36

towards the background of woodland that

20:39

darkly framed the water meadows on one side of

20:41

the river. "'That? Oh,

20:44

that's just the wildwood,' said

20:46

the Rat shortly. "'We don't go there

20:48

very much, we river-bankers.' "'Aren't

20:52

they very nice people in there?' said

20:55

the Mole, a trifle nervously.

20:57

"'Well,' replied the Rat, "'let

20:59

me see. The squirrels are

21:01

all right, and the rabbits, some

21:03

of them, but rabbits are a

21:06

mixed lot. And then there's Badger,

21:08

of course. He lives right in the heart of

21:10

it. Wouldn't live anywhere else either if you

21:12

paid him to do it. Dear

21:14

old Badger, nobody interferes with

21:16

him. They'd better not, he

21:19

acted significantly.' "'Why,

21:21

who should interfere with him?' asked the Mole.

21:24

"'Well, of course, there are others,' exclaimed

21:27

the Rat, in a hesitating sort

21:29

of way. Weasels and stoats

21:31

and foxes and so on. They're

21:33

all right, in a way. I'm very good friends of

21:35

them. Past the time of day when we

21:38

meet and all that, but they

21:40

break out sometimes. There's no denying

21:42

it. And then, well, you

21:45

can't really trust them. And that's the fact.' The

21:48

Mole knew well that it was quite

21:50

against animal etiquette to dwell in possible

21:52

trouble or even to

21:54

allude to it, so we dropped the subject. And

21:58

beyond the wild wood again, he asked." Where

22:01

it's all blue and dim, and

22:03

one sees what may be hills or perhaps

22:05

they mate, and something

22:07

like smoke of towns, or is

22:09

it only cloud-dressed? "'Beyond the Wild

22:11

Wood,' comes the wide world," said

22:13

the Rat, and that's something that

22:15

doesn't matter, either to you or to me.

22:19

I've never been there, and I'm never going, nor

22:21

you either. If you've got any sense

22:23

at all, don't ever refer to

22:25

it again, please. Now

22:28

then, here's our backwater at

22:30

least, and we're going to lunch. Leaving

22:33

the mainstream, they now passed into

22:35

what seemed, at first sight, like

22:37

a little landlocked lake. Green

22:40

turf sloped down at either edge, brown,

22:42

snakey tree-roots gleamed all the surface of

22:44

the quiet water, well ahead

22:47

of them. The silvery shoulder and foamy

22:49

tumble of the weir, arm in arm

22:51

with the restless, tripling mill-wheel that

22:54

held up in its turn a gray

22:56

gabled mill-house, filled the air with a

22:58

soothing murmur of sound, dull and smothery,

23:01

yet with little clear voices speaking up

23:04

cheerfully out of intervals. It

23:06

was so very beautiful that the mole

23:08

could only hold up both forepaws and

23:10

gasps. Oh, my! Oh,

23:13

my! Oh, my! The

23:16

Rat brought the boat alongside the bank, made

23:18

her fast, helped us still awkward.

23:22

Mole safely ashore and swung out

23:25

the luncheon basket. The

23:27

mole begged as a favor to be allowed to

23:29

unpack it all by himself, and

23:31

the Rat was very pleased to indulge him, and

23:34

to sprawl at full length on the grass

23:36

and rest while his excited friend shook out

23:38

the tablecloth and spread it, took

23:41

out all the mysterious packets one by

23:43

one, and arranged their

23:45

contents in due order, still gasping.

23:48

Oh, my! Oh, my! At

23:51

each fresh revelation. When

23:54

all was ready, the Rat said, Now, pitch

23:57

in, old fellow. And the

23:59

mole was indeed very clear. glad to obey, for

24:01

he started his spring cleaning in a very

24:04

early hour this morning. I hope

24:06

people will do, and did not pause for

24:08

a bite or so, and he

24:10

had been through a very great deal since

24:12

that distant time which now seems so many

24:14

days ago. What

24:16

are you looking at? said the rat presently, when

24:19

the edge of their hunger was somewhat dull, and

24:21

the mole's eyes were able to wander off the table

24:23

a little. I am

24:26

looking at the mole, as a

24:28

streak of bubbles that I see traveling along the

24:30

surface of the water.

24:32

That is a thing that strikes me as funny. Bubbles?

24:36

Oh, said the rat, and,

24:38

corrupt cheerily, in the inviting sort of

24:40

way, a broad glistened

24:42

muzzle showed itself above the edge of the

24:44

bank, and the otter hauled himself out

24:46

and shook the water from the scope. Gradypeckers,

24:49

he observed, making for

24:52

the promenade. You didn't invite

24:54

me, Ratty? This

24:56

was an impromptu affair, explained the rat. By

24:59

the way, my friend, Mr. Mole, proud,

25:02

I'm sure, said the otter, and

25:04

the two animals were friends for

25:06

the best. Such a rumpus everywhere, continued

25:08

the otter. All the world seems

25:10

to be out in the river today. I

25:12

came up this back water to try and get a

25:14

moment's peace, and then stumble upon you,

25:18

Phonos. At least, I beg your pardon, I don't

25:20

exactly mean that. There

25:23

was a rustle behind them, proceeding from

25:25

a hedge wherein last year's leaves still

25:27

clonk thick, and a stripey

25:29

head, with high shoulders behind it, peered

25:31

forth on them. Come

25:34

on, old Badger, shouted the rat, and

25:37

badgered trotted forward a pace or two, then grunted,

25:39

hm, company,

25:42

and turned his back and disappeared for view. That's

25:45

just the sort of fellow he is, observed

25:48

the disappointed rat, simply hates

25:50

society. Now we can't see

25:52

any more of him today. Well,

25:54

tell us who's out in the river. Tell

25:57

it to him, for one, for glad to yodel. his

26:00

brand new wager boat. New

26:02

togs, new everything. The

26:04

two animals looked at each other and laughed. Once

26:07

it was nothing but sailing, said the rat. Then

26:10

he tired of that and took to pointing. Nothing

26:12

would please him but to point all day and

26:14

every day, and a nice mess he made

26:17

of it. Last year it

26:19

was house boating, and we all had to go and

26:21

stay with him in his houseboat

26:24

and pretend we liked it. He was going to spend all of the

26:26

rest of his life in his houseboat. It's

26:28

all the same, whatever he takes up he gets tired

26:30

of it, and he starts on something fresh.

26:34

Such a good photo too, remarks

26:36

the owner reflectively, but

26:38

no stability, especially on a

26:40

boat. From where

26:42

they sat, they could get a glimpse of the mainstream

26:44

across the road that separated them. And

26:46

just then, a wager boat flashed

26:48

into view. The rower, a

26:51

short stout figure, blushing badly

26:54

and rolling a good deal. The working

26:56

artist, the red stood up and

26:58

hailed him. But Toad, for

27:00

it was he, shook his head and

27:02

settled sternly to his work. He'll

27:05

be out of that boat in a minute if he rolls like that,

27:07

said the rat, sitting down again. Of course

27:10

he will, chuckled the odor. Did

27:12

I ever tell you that good story about Toad

27:14

and the lock-keeper? It happened

27:17

this way. Toad. An

27:19

errand of mayflies swerved unsteadily, athwart

27:22

the current in the intoxicated fashion

27:24

affected by young bloods of

27:26

mayflies seeing life. A

27:29

swirl of water and a cloop, and

27:31

the mayfly was visible no more. Neither

27:34

was the otter. The

27:36

mo looked down. The voice was

27:38

still in his ears, but the turf wear-on

27:40

he had sprawled was clearly vacant, not

27:43

an otter to be seen as far as the distant

27:45

horizon. But again there was a streak

27:47

of bubbles on the surface of the river. The

27:50

rat hummed a tune, and the mole

27:52

recollected that animal etiquette forbade any sort

27:54

of comment on the sudden disappearance of

27:56

one's friends at any moment, for

27:58

any reason or no reason. Whatever. Well.

28:01

Well said the rat. I suppose

28:03

we ought to be moving. I wonder

28:06

which of us had better pack a lunch and ask.

28:09

Use eager from the tree.

28:12

Oh please, let me see off. Of

28:15

course the rattling. Packing

28:18

basket was not quite such pleasant work.

28:21

As. An act of ask. You. Never

28:23

is. That the more was

28:25

bent on a everything. And

28:27

although just when you got the basket

28:29

pack and strapped up rightly. He.

28:32

Saw plate staring at him from the gas.

28:34

On the job and down again. The

28:37

rap point out. Much anybody

28:39

on scene. And. Last fall

28:41

a half. A. Most part.

28:43

When. She had been sitting on. Still,

28:47

Somehow the thing as well as.

28:52

The after his son was getting low the

28:54

red skull and homeward than a dreamy mood.

28:57

Moving. Poetry think our town so.

29:00

I'm not paying much attention to the mall. But.

29:02

The more was very full of one's

29:05

self satisfaction. The. Pride. And

29:07

already quite at home in the boat, so I

29:09

thought. It was getting a bit

29:11

restless besides. I'm presently yourself.

29:14

Ready. Please. I

29:17

want a row now. The.

29:20

Red shook his head with a smile. Not

29:22

yet my young friend. He sat. Way

29:25

to leave at a few lessons. it's not

29:27

as easy as lox. The.

29:29

More was quiet for a minute or two. But.

29:31

He began to feel more and more

29:33

jealous of her. a sculling so strongly

29:35

in so easily along. In

29:37

his pride began to whisper. That. You

29:40

could do it every bit as. He.

29:42

Jumped up and sees the schools.

29:44

So suddenly. At the rat who's

29:46

gazing out at the river. And

29:48

saying more poetry thing. son's house. Was.

29:50

Taken by surprise, he fell backwards off

29:52

the see. When. as like in the

29:54

air for a second time Stop

30:00

it, you silly ass. Ride the rat from the bottom of the boat. You

30:02

can't do it. You'll have us over." He

30:05

missed the surface altogether. His legs flew up above

30:07

his head and he found

30:09

himself lying on top of the prostrate rat.

30:11

Greatly alarmed, he made a grab at the side

30:13

of the boat and the next moment, sploosh, he

30:27

went to the water. He was I

30:31

would sing in his ears and he went down, down, down. It

30:36

was the rat and he was evidently laughing. The mole could feel the sound of the water. The

30:40

mole could feel him laughing right down his arm and through his

30:42

paw and so into this, the

31:03

mole's neck. Then he did

31:05

the same by a little bit. down on

31:07

a bank. A squishy, pulpy lump of misery. So

31:11

the dismal moment was over. The mole was over. The

31:14

animal was all

31:33

wet. So the

31:35

dismal mole, wet without and

31:38

ashamed within, trotted about till he

31:40

was fairly dry while the rat plunged into

31:42

the water again, recovered the boat, righted

31:44

her and made her fast, fetched his

31:47

floating property to shore by degrees and

31:49

finally dived successfully for the luncheon basket

31:51

and struggled to land with it. When

31:54

all was ready for a start once more,

31:57

the mole, limp and dejected, took

31:59

his seat in the stern of the bow, and

32:02

as they set off he said in a low voice, broken

32:05

with emotion, "'Raddy, my

32:07

generous friend. I am

32:09

very sorry indeed for my foolish

32:11

and ungrateful conduct. My heart

32:13

quite fails me when I think of how I

32:16

might have lost that beautiful luncheon basket.'

32:19

"'Indeed, I have been a complete ass and I

32:21

know it. Will you overlook it

32:23

once and forgive me?' "'And let

32:25

things go on as before.' "'That's

32:28

all right. Bless you,' responded the rat

32:30

cheerily. "'What's a little wet,

32:32

tall water, rat?' "'I'm more in

32:34

the water than out of it, most days. Don't

32:37

you think any more about it? And look here.

32:40

I really think you had better come and stop with

32:42

me for a little time. It's

32:44

very plain and rough, you know.' "'Not

32:46

like Toad's house at all. But you haven't seen

32:49

that yet. Still, I can

32:51

make you comfortable, and I'll teach you how

32:53

to row and to swim, and you'll soon be as handy

32:55

on the water as any of us.' The

32:58

Mole was so touched by his kind manner

33:00

of speaking that he could find no voice

33:02

to answer him, and he had to

33:04

brush away a tear or two with the back of his paw.

33:07

But the rat kindly looked in the other

33:09

direction, and presently the Mole's spirits revived

33:12

again, and he was even able

33:14

to give some straight back talk to a couple

33:16

of Morrans who were sniggering to

33:18

each other about his bedraggled appearance.

33:22

When they got home, the rat made a bright

33:24

fire in the parlor, and planted the Mole as

33:26

an armchair in front of it, having

33:29

fetched down a dressing-town in slipper's form,

33:31

and told him river-stingry

33:33

still slipper-time. Very

33:35

thrilling stories they were, too, to

33:37

an earth-dwelling animal like Mole. Stories

33:40

about weirs, and sudden floods,

33:43

and a leaping creek, and steamers

33:45

that flung hard bottles, at

33:47

least bottles that were certainly flung, and

33:50

from steamers, so presumably bison.

33:53

About herons, and how particular they were when

33:55

they spoke to, and about

33:57

adventurous down drains and nights.

34:00

fishings with otter or excursions

34:02

far afield with badger. Supper

34:05

was the most cheerful meal, but

34:07

shortly afterwards a terribly sleepy mole

34:09

had to be escorted upstairs by

34:11

his considerate host to the best bedroom,

34:14

where he soon laid his head on a

34:16

pillow in great peace and contentment, knowing that

34:18

his newfound friend the river was

34:20

elapping the sill of his window. This

34:23

day was only the first of many similar ones

34:26

for the emancipated mole, each

34:28

one of them longer and fuller

34:30

of interest as the ripening sun removed

34:32

forward. He learnt to

34:35

swim and row, and he entered into

34:37

the joy of running water, and with

34:39

his ear to the reed stems he caught

34:41

at intervals something of what

34:43

the wind went whispering so constantly among

34:46

them. Chapter

34:53

2 The Open Road Ratty,

34:57

said the mole suddenly, one bright

34:59

summer morning. If you please, I

35:01

want to ask you a favor. The

35:03

rat was sitting on the riverbank, singing a

35:05

little song. He had just

35:07

composed it himself, so he was very taken up with

35:09

it. He would not pay proper

35:11

attention to the mole or anything else. Since

35:14

early morning he had been swimming in the river in

35:17

the company with his friends and ducks. When

35:20

the ducks stood on their heads suddenly, as ducks

35:22

will, he would dive down and tickle

35:24

their necks, just under where their chins

35:26

would be if ducks had chins, till

35:28

they were forced to come to the surface again in

35:31

a hurry, spluttering and angry

35:33

and shaking their feathers at

35:35

him. For it is impossible to say quite

35:37

all you feel when your head is under

35:39

water. At least they implored

35:42

him to go away and attend to his own

35:44

affairs and leave them to mine theirs. So

35:46

the rat went away and sat on the

35:48

riverbank in the sun and made up a

35:51

song about them, which he called, Ducks

35:54

Diddy. All

35:56

along the backwater, through the rush's toll,

35:59

ducks Are a dabbling. How's

36:02

tricks tales? Yellow. Feed a

36:04

quieter Yellow Bills all out of sight.

36:06

Busy in the river. Slushy.

36:09

Green undergrowth where the road swim.

36:11

Here we keep our larder cool and full.

36:13

and damn. Everyone for what

36:16

he likes, we'll have to be. Heads

36:19

and tails off Ablin free.

36:21

High in the blue above swift

36:24

swirling com we are down dialing

36:26

up tails off. I

36:29

don't know that I think so very much of

36:31

that little song rat. Observe the more

36:33

cautiously. He. Was no power and

36:35

south and and care? Oh no. it. And

36:38

he had a kinda nature. Nor.

36:40

Don't the ducks neither ratify.

36:43

The say. That.

36:47

When they like and as they

36:49

like instead of other fellow sitting

36:51

on pins and watching them off time

36:53

making remarks, tree and things out

36:55

and. What? Nonsense. That's

36:58

what the ducks. So. It

37:01

is so it is said the more with

37:03

great hardiness. No. It

37:05

isn't. Catherine definitely. While.

37:08

Then it isn't. It isn't applied

37:10

the most soothingly. But what

37:12

I wanted to ask you was. Only take

37:15

me to call and Mister toad. I've.

37:17

Heard so much Allen and I do want to

37:19

make as. I

37:21

certainly syndicate. Jumping.

37:24

To see and dismissing poetry from his mind

37:26

for the day. At the boat

37:28

out. And. Will battle up there once. It's

37:31

never the wrong time to com tower. Early

37:33

really is always the same. Always.

37:36

A tavern. Always glad to see you.

37:38

Always summer when you go. You.

37:41

Must be a very nice and will observe them

37:43

all the the going to the boat and took

37:45

this house. While. The rest settled

37:47

himself comfortably in the stern. He.

37:49

Is indeed the best of animals? Reply. So

37:53

simple, so good nature. The.

37:55

So affectionate, Perhaps.

37:58

Is not very clever. We

38:00

can't all be geniuses. And maybe that

38:02

he is both boastful and

38:04

conceited, but he's got some great

38:07

qualities, has Dodie. Rounding

38:09

a bend in the river, they came

38:11

to the site of a handsome, dignified

38:13

old house of mellow rat-brick and

38:16

well-capped lawns reaching down the water's edge.

38:19

There's Toad Hole, said the rat, and

38:21

that creek on the left, where the

38:23

notice board says private, no landing allowed,

38:26

leads to his bow house, where he'll leave the

38:28

boat. The stables are over there

38:30

to the right. That's the banqueting hall

38:32

you're looking at now. Very old, that

38:34

is. Toad is rather

38:36

rich, you know, and this is really one of

38:38

the nicest houses in these parts, though

38:41

we never admit this much to Toad. They

38:44

glided up the creek, and the mole shipped his

38:46

skulls as they passed into the shadow of

38:49

the large bow house. Here

38:51

they saw many handsome boats, swung from the

38:53

cross beams or hauled on a slip, but

38:56

none in the water, and the place had an

38:58

unused and deserted air. The

39:00

rat looked around him. I understand,

39:02

said he. Boating is played out.

39:05

He's tired of it and done with it. I

39:08

wonder what new fat he's taken up now. Come

39:11

along and let's look him up. We

39:13

shall hear all about it quite soon enough. They

39:16

disembarked and strolled across the gay, flower-decked

39:18

lawns in search of Toad, whom

39:21

they presently happened upon, resting in

39:23

a wicker garden chair, with a

39:25

preoccupied expression of face and

39:28

a large map spread out on his knees. Hooray,

39:31

he cried, jumping up on seeing them.

39:34

This is splendid. He shook

39:36

the paws of both of them warmingly, never

39:38

waiting for an introduction to the mole. How

39:41

kind of you. He went on dancing around them. Whatever

39:46

you were doing, I want you badly,

39:48

both of you. Now

39:56

what will you take? Come inside and have something.

39:59

You don't know how lucky it is. is you turning up just

40:01

now?" "'Let's sit quite

40:03

a bit, Tody,' said the Rat, throwing himself

40:05

into an easy chair. Well, the Mole took

40:07

another by the side of him, and made

40:10

some civil remark about Toad's

40:12

delightful residence. "'Find this

40:14

house on the whole river,' cried

40:16

Toad boisterously, or anywhere else for

40:19

that matter. He cannot help adding."

40:22

Here the Rat nudged the Mole. Unfortunately,

40:24

the Toad saw him do it, and

40:26

turned very red. There

40:28

was a moment's painful silence. Then

40:31

the Toad burst out laughing. "'All

40:33

right, Ratty,' he said. It's

40:35

only my way, you know. And it's

40:37

not such a very bad house, is it? You

40:40

know you'd rather like it yourself. Now

40:42

look here. Let's be sensible. You

40:44

are the very animals I wanted. You've

40:47

got to help me. It's most important." "'It's

40:50

about your rowing,' I suppose," said the Rat,

40:52

with an innocent air. "'You're getting

40:54

on fairly well, though you splash

40:56

a good bit, still,' said the Great

40:59

Deal of Patience and a quantity of coaching. You may." "'Oh,

41:02

poo,' boating, interrupted the Toad,

41:05

in great disgust. Silly,

41:07

boyish amusement. I've given that

41:09

up long ago. Sheer wastes

41:11

time, that's what it is. It

41:14

makes me downright sorry to see you fellows

41:16

who ought to know better, spending

41:18

all your energies in that aimless manner.

41:21

Know I've discovered the real thing, the

41:23

only genuine occupation for a lifetime.

41:26

I propose to devote the remainder of mine to it,

41:29

and can only regret the wasted years that lie

41:31

behind me. It's a hundred in trivia, ladies. Come

41:34

with me, dear Ratty, and your amiable

41:37

friend also, if he will be

41:39

so very good just as far as Stable

41:41

Yard, and you shall see what you

41:43

shall see.'" He

41:46

led the way to the Stable Yard accordingly, the

41:49

Rat following the most mistrustful expression.

41:52

From there, drawn out of the coach house

41:54

into the open, they saw

41:56

Gypsy Caravan, shining with

41:58

newness, painted a canary. yellow, picked

42:00

out with green and red wheels. �There

42:03

you are,� cried the Toad, straddling

42:06

and expanding himself. �There�s

42:08

real life for you, embodied in

42:10

that little cart. The

42:12

open road, the dusty highway, the

42:14

heath, the common, the hedgerows, the

42:17

rolling towns, camps,

42:19

villages, towns, cities. Here

42:21

today, up and off somewhere else tomorrow,

42:24

travel, change, interest, excitement.

42:28

The whole world before you, an horizon

42:30

that�s always changing. And

42:32

mind, this is the very finest carnivate sort that

42:35

was ever built. Without any exception,

42:38

come inside and look at the arrangements.� �Land

42:40

them all myself, I did.� The Mole

42:43

was tremendously interested and excited, and

42:46

followed him eagerly up the steps, and into the

42:48

interior of the caravan. The

42:50

Rat only snorted, and thrust his

42:52

hands deep into his pockets, remaining where he was.

42:55

It was indeed very compact and comfortable.

42:59

Little sleeping bunks, a little table that

43:01

folded up against the wall, a

43:03

cooking stove, lockers, bookshelves, a

43:06

birdcage with a bird in it, and pots

43:08

and pans, jugs and kettles of

43:10

every size and variety. All

43:12

complete, said the Toad triumphantly, fully open

43:15

the locker. You see, biscuits,

43:18

potters and lobster, sardines,

43:20

everything you can possibly want. No water

43:22

here, baki there, letter

43:25

paper, bacon, jam, cards and

43:27

dominoes, you�ll find.� He

43:30

continued as they descended the steps again. �You�ll

43:32

find that nothing, whatever has been forgotten,

43:35

when we make our start this afternoon.� �I

43:38

beg your pardon,� said the Rat slowly, as he

43:40

chewed his straw. �But did I

43:42

overhear you say something about we and

43:45

start?� And this afternoon. �Now

43:48

you dear old good Ratty,� said

43:50

Toad imploreingly. �Don�t begin

43:52

in all that stiff and sniffy sort of way,

43:55

because you know you�ve got to come. I

43:57

can�t possibly manage without you.� Please

44:00

consider it settled, and don't argue.

44:03

It's the one thing I can't stand. You

44:05

surely don't mean to stick to your dull, busty old

44:07

river all your life, and just

44:09

live in a hole in a bank and boat.

44:12

I want to show you the world. I'm going to make

44:14

an animal out of you, my boy." I

44:17

don't care," said the rat doggedly. I'm

44:19

not coming, and that's flat. And

44:22

I am going to stick to my old river

44:24

and live in a hole and boat, as I've

44:26

always done. And what's more, Mole's

44:28

going to stick with me and do as I

44:31

do. Aren't you, Mole? Of

44:34

course I am, said the Mole loyally. I'll

44:36

always stick with you, Rat, and what

44:38

you say is to be. Has got to be.

44:41

All the same, it sounds as if it

44:44

might have been, well, rather fun,

44:46

you know? Yet it was like, horrible.

44:50

The life of Entress was so new a thing to

44:52

him, and so thrilling, and

44:55

this fresh aspect of it was so tempting.

44:57

He had phoned in love at first

45:00

sight with the canary-colored cart and all

45:02

its little fitments. The

45:04

rat saw what was passing his mind and

45:06

wavered. He hated disappointing

45:08

people, and he was fond of the Mole, and

45:11

he would do almost anything to oblige him. Toad

45:13

was watching both of them closely. "'Come

45:16

along in and we'll have some lunch,' he

45:18

said diplomatically, and we'll talk it over. We'd

45:21

needn't decide anything in a hurry. Of

45:23

course, I don't really care." I

45:26

only want to give pleasure to you fellows. Live

45:29

for others, that's my motto in life." During

45:32

luncheon, which was excellent, of course, as

45:34

everything at Toad Hall was, the

45:37

Toad simply let himself go. Disregarding

45:40

the rat, he proceeded to play, upon

45:43

the inexperienced Mole as on a harp, naturally

45:46

a voluble animal, and always

45:48

mastered by his imagination. He

45:50

painted the prospects of the trip and

45:52

the joys of open life and the

45:54

roadside in such glowing colours that the

45:56

Mole could hardly sit in his chair for

45:58

excitement. Somehow it

46:01

soon seemed taken for granted by all three of

46:03

them that the trip was a settled thing,

46:05

and the rat, though still unconvinced in his

46:07

mind, allowed his good nature

46:09

to over-ry his personal objections. He

46:12

could not bear to disappoint his two

46:14

friends, who were already deep in schemes

46:16

and anticipations, planning out each

46:19

day's separate occupation for several weeks

46:21

ahead, when they

46:23

were quite ready. The now-triumphant Toad

46:25

led his companions to the paddock and

46:27

set them to capture the old Grey

46:29

Horse, who, without having

46:31

been consulted into his own extreme

46:33

annoyance, had been told off by

46:35

Toad for the dustiest job in

46:38

this dusty expedition. He frankly

46:40

preferred the paddock and took

46:42

a deal of catching. Meantime

46:44

Toad backed the locker still tighter

46:47

with necessaries and hung

46:49

nose-bags, nets of onions, bundles

46:51

of hay, and baskets from the bottom of

46:53

the cart. At last the

46:55

horse was caught in a harness, and they

46:57

set off, all taking at once, each animal

46:59

either trudging by the side of the cart,

47:01

or sitting on the shaft as the humor

47:03

took him. It was a golden afternoon.

47:07

The smell of the dust they kicked up was

47:09

rich and satisfying. Out

47:11

of the thick orchards on either side

47:13

of the road, birds called and

47:15

whistled them cheerily, good-natured

47:17

werefarers, passing them, gave

47:20

them a good day, or stopped to

47:22

say nice things about their beautiful cart. And

47:25

rabbits, sitting on their front doors in the

47:27

hedgerows, held up their forepaws and

47:29

said, Oh, my! Oh,

47:32

my! Oh, my! Late

47:34

in the evening, tired and happy, and

47:36

miles from home, they drew up on

47:39

a remote common far from habitations, turned

47:41

the horse loose to Grey, and ate

47:43

their simple supper, sitting on the grass by

47:45

the side of the cart. Toad

47:47

talked back about all he was going to do in

47:49

the days to come, while stars grew

47:52

fuller and Lord drove around them,

47:54

and a yellow moon appearing suddenly,

47:56

and silently from nowhere in particular, came to the

47:59

ground. aimed to keep them company

48:01

and listened to their talk. At

48:03

last they turned into their little punks in the

48:05

cart, and Toad, kicking

48:07

at his legs, sleepily said, Good

48:11

night, you fellows. This is the

48:13

real life for a gentleman. Talk

48:15

about your old river. I don't talk

48:18

about my river or Blondepation Red.

48:20

You know that, Toad. When I think

48:22

about it, he added pathetically,

48:24

you know, lower tone. I

48:27

think about it all the time. The

48:30

Mole reached out from under his blanket, fell

48:32

for the rats upon the darkness, and gave it

48:34

a squeeze. I'll do

48:36

whatever you like, Ratty, he whispered. Shall

48:39

we run away tomorrow morning? Quite

48:41

early, very early, and go back to our

48:43

dear old hole on the river? No,

48:46

no. We'll see it out, whispered

48:49

back the rat. Thanks

48:51

awfully, but I ought to stick pretty tough until

48:53

this trip has ended. It wouldn't be

48:55

safe for him to be left to himself. It

48:58

won't take very long, his fat never knew. The

49:01

end was indeed nearer than even the rats suspected.

49:05

After so much open air and excitement, the

49:07

Toad slept very soundly, and no amount of

49:09

shaking could rouse him out of bed the

49:11

next morning. So the Mole

49:13

and Rat turned to quietly and

49:15

manfully, while the Rat sawed

49:17

the horse and lit a fire and cleaned

49:19

his legs and cups and platters, and

49:22

got things ready for breakfast. The

49:24

Mole trudged off to the nearest village, a

49:27

long way off from milk and eggs

49:29

and various necessaries that Toad, of

49:31

course, forgot to provide. The

49:34

hard work had all been done, and

49:36

the two animals were resting, thoroughly exhausted

49:38

by the time Toad appeared on the

49:41

scene, fresh and gay, remarking

49:43

what a pleasant, heezy life it was that

49:45

they were all leading now, after

49:48

the cares and worries and fatigues

49:50

of housekeeping at home. They

49:52

had a pleasant ramble that day, over

49:54

grassy downs and the long, narrow

49:57

bylanes and camped as before, on

49:59

a common. Only

50:01

this time the two guests took care that

50:03

Toad should do his fair share of work.

50:06

In consequence, when the time came for

50:08

starting next morning, Toad was

50:11

by no means rapturous about the

50:13

simplicity of primitive leave, and

50:15

indeed attempted to resume his place in the bunk

50:18

once he was hauled by force. Their

50:21

way lay, as before, across country by

50:23

narrow lanes, and it was not till

50:25

afternoon that they came out on the

50:27

high road. Their first high road

50:30

and their disaster, fleet and

50:32

unforeseen spring out on them. Disaster

50:35

momentous indeed to their expedition,

50:38

but simply overwhelming in its effect

50:40

on the aftercareer of Toad. They

50:43

were strolling along the high road

50:45

easily, and mauled by the horse's head, talking

50:47

to him, since the horse

50:49

complained that he was being frightfully left out

50:52

of it, and nobody considered him at least.

50:54

The toad and the water rat walking behind the

50:57

door, talking together. At least

50:59

Toad was talking, and the rat was saying

51:01

at intervals, Yes,

51:03

precisely. What did you say to

51:05

him? In thinking all

51:07

the time of something very different, when

51:10

far behind him they heard a

51:12

faint, warning hum, like the

51:14

drone of a distant bee. Greeting

51:16

back, they saw a small cloud of dust,

51:19

with a dark center of energy, advancing

51:22

on them at incredible speed, all

51:25

from out of the dust, a faint poop,

51:27

poop, wail like an

51:29

uneasy animal in pain. Hardly

51:31

regarding it, they turned to resume

51:33

their conversation, when in

51:36

an instant, as it seemed, the

51:38

peaceful scene was changed, with a

51:40

blast of wind and a whirl of

51:42

sound that made them jump for the nearest ditch

51:44

that was on them. A

51:46

poop, poop, playing with a

51:49

brazen shout in their ears. And

51:51

they had a moment's glimpse of

51:53

an interior of glittering play-class and

51:55

rich Morocco, and the

51:57

magnificent motor-car, immense. breath-snatching,

52:00

passionate, with its

52:02

pilot tense and hugging his wheel, possessed

52:05

all earth and air for the fraction of a

52:07

second, flung an enveloping

52:10

cloud of dust that blinded

52:12

and wrapped them utterly, and

52:14

then dwindled to a speck in the far distance,

52:17

changed back into a droning bee once more.

52:21

The old gray horse, dreaming, as

52:23

he plotted along of his quiet

52:25

paddock in a new raw situation

52:27

such as this, simply abandoned himself

52:29

to his natural emotions, rearing,

52:31

plunging, acting steadily, in

52:34

spite of all Moll's efforts it has had. An

52:37

all-Moll's lively language directed at his

52:39

better feelings, he drove the cart

52:41

backwards towards the deep ditch at the side of

52:44

the road. It wavered an

52:46

instant, and there was a heart-rendering

52:48

crash, and a canary-colored gour,

52:50

their pride in their joy, lay

52:52

on its side in the ditch, an

52:55

irredeemable wreck. The

52:57

rat danced up and down on the road as they

53:00

transported with passion. You

53:02

villains, he shouted, shaking both

53:04

fists. You scoundrels,

53:06

you highwaymen. You,

53:08

you, you roadhogs. And I'll

53:11

have the law in you. I'll report you.

53:13

I'll take you through all the courts. His

53:16

homesickness had quite slipped away from him,

53:18

and for a moment he was the

53:20

skipper of a canary-colored vessel, driven

53:22

on a shoal by a reckless jockeying

53:24

of rival mariners, and he

53:27

was trying to recollect all the fine and biting

53:29

things he used to say to masters

53:31

of steam launches when they were washed as

53:33

they drove too near to the bay and

53:36

used to flood his parlor carpet at home.

53:39

Toad sat straight down in the middle of the dusty road,

53:42

his legs stretched out before him, and

53:44

stared fixedly in the direction of

53:47

the disappearing motor-car. He

53:49

breathed short, his face more

53:51

pleasant, satisfied expression, and at

53:54

intervals he faintly murmured, Poop,

53:57

poop, the

53:59

mole. was busy trying to quiet the

54:01

horse, which he had succeeded in doing

54:04

after a time. Then he went to look at the

54:06

car, on its side in the ditch.

54:09

It was indeed a sorry sight. Panels

54:11

and windows smashed, axles

54:13

hopelessly bent, one wheel

54:16

off, sardines tin scattered over

54:18

the wide world, and the

54:20

bird in the birdcage sobbing pitifully and

54:23

calling to be let out. The

54:25

rat came to help him, but their

54:27

united efforts were not sufficient to ride the car.

54:30

High toad, they cried. Come

54:33

and bear a hand, can't you? The

54:35

toad never answered a word, or budged

54:38

from the seat in the road, so

54:40

they went to see what's the matter with him. They

54:42

found him in a sort of trance, a

54:45

happy smile on his face, his

54:47

eyes still fixed on the dusty

54:49

wake of their destroyer. At

54:51

intervals he was still heard to murmur, poop,

54:54

poop. The rat

54:57

shook him by the shoulder. Are

54:59

you come to help us, toad? he demanded

55:01

sternly. Glorious,

55:03

stirring sight, murmured toad, never

55:05

offering to move. A poetry

55:07

of motion, the real way

55:10

to travel, the only way to

55:12

travel. Here today, in the

55:14

next week tomorrow, villages skipped,

55:17

towns and cities jumped, always

55:19

somebody else's horizon. Oh,

55:22

bliss, oh, poop, poop.

55:24

Oh, my, oh, my. Oh,

55:27

stop being an ass, toad, cried

55:29

the mole disparagingly. And

55:31

to think I never knew went on the

55:33

toad in a dreamy monotone, all

55:36

those wasted years that lie behind me. I

55:38

never knew, never even dreamed. But

55:41

now, but now I know,

55:43

now that I fully

55:45

realize, oh, what a flowery track lies

55:48

spread before me henceforth. What

55:50

dust cloud shall spring up behind me as

55:53

I speed on my reckless way? What

55:55

Cart I shall find carelessly into the

55:57

ditch in the wake of my magnific.

56:00

On that. Horrid little

56:02

cart com and cart. Canary.

56:05

Kind. Where.

56:07

Are we to do with him? Nothing

56:11

at all. My family. Because.

56:14

There's really nothing to be done. You.

56:17

See, I know him from hard. He

56:19

is now the nest. New

56:21

Craze and are always tax on their way.

56:24

And it's first. They'll. Continue

56:26

like this for days now. Like.

56:28

An animal working in a happy dream.

56:31

Quite useless for all practical birth. Nevermind

56:34

him. Let's go and see what there

56:36

has to be done about. A

56:39

careful inspection is shown in that. Even

56:41

if I succeeded and running and by themselves.

56:44

The. Car or trail no longer. Vehicles.

56:47

Are. In. A hopeless state. And

56:49

the missing we'll was shattered into pieces. The.

56:52

Rat nodded. A horse has reigned over his

56:54

back. Carrying.

56:57

The birdcage stare caught any

56:59

other. A hot.

57:03

As. Five or six miles to the nearest town.

57:06

And. We should just have to walk. The.

57:09

Sooner we make a start, the better. But

57:12

what about toad? Ask them all

57:14

anxiously? As they sell off together. We.

57:17

Can't leave a mere. Sitting. In the

57:19

middle zero times. In the

57:21

distracted stay he said. It's

57:23

not safe supposing Another thing where the

57:25

come along. Oh, border

57:27

Towns and the rats. Actually, I.

57:31

Then. Proceeded very for in way

57:33

however. When. There was a pattern your feet

57:35

behind them. And told caught them

57:38

up and thrust upon signing elbow of

57:40

each of them still breathing short. And

57:42

staring into vacancy. Now.

57:45

Look here. Tone said the rat sharply. The.

57:47

Soon as we get to the town. You

57:49

have to go straight to the police station. And

57:52

see if they knew anything. About. The

57:54

Motor Car. And what belongs to.

57:56

The Lodge a complaint against it. And

57:59

then you have to go to the. blacksmiths or the wheel-wrights

58:01

and arranged for the card to be

58:03

fetched and mended and put to write.

58:06

It'll take time, but it's not

58:08

quite a hopeless smash. Meanwhile,

58:11

the mole and I will go to an end

58:13

and find help for all our own, or

58:15

we can stay till the card's ready, until

58:17

your nerves have recovered their shock. Police

58:21

station? Complete, murmured

58:23

the tone dreamily. Me, complaining

58:25

of that beautiful, that

58:28

heavenly vision that has vouchsafed

58:30

me. Men, the card.

58:32

I've done with cards forever. I

58:35

never want to see the card or hear of

58:37

it again. Already, you

58:39

can't think how obliged I am to you

58:41

for consenting to come on this trip. And

58:44

then I might have never seen that. That

58:47

swan, that sunbeam, that

58:49

thunderbolt. I might have

58:51

never heard that entrancing sound or

58:54

smelt that bewitching smell. I owe

58:56

it all to you, my best of friends.

59:00

The rat turned to him in despair. You

59:02

see what it is? He said to the mole, addressing

59:05

him across Toad's head. He's

59:07

quite hopeless. I give it

59:09

up. When we get to the town,

59:11

we'll go to the railway station. And with

59:13

luck, we may pick up a train there

59:15

that'll get us back to the riverbank tonight. And

59:18

if you ever catch me going,

59:20

pleasuring with this provoking animal again,

59:22

he snorted, and during the rest

59:24

of the weary trudge addressed his

59:26

remarks exclusively to the mole. On

59:30

reaching the town, they went straight to the

59:32

station and deposited Toad in

59:34

the second-class waiting room, giving

59:36

a porter two pence to keep a strict eye on

59:38

him. They then left the

59:40

horse at an instable and

59:42

gave what directions they could about the

59:44

card and its contents. Eventually,

59:48

the slow train having landed them in a

59:50

station not very far from Toad Hall, they

59:52

escorted the spellbound sleepwalking Toad

59:55

to his door and put

59:57

him inside it, and instructed his housekeeper to

59:59

feed him. feed him, undress him, and

1:00:02

put him to bed. Then they

1:00:04

got out their boat from the boathouse, sculled

1:00:06

down the river-home, and at a

1:00:08

very late hour sat down to supper in their

1:00:11

own cozy riverside parlor to

1:00:13

the rat's great joy and contentment. The

1:00:17

following evening the Mole, who had

1:00:19

risenly and taken things very easy

1:00:21

all day, was sitting on

1:00:23

the bank fishing, when the Rat, who

1:00:25

had been looking up at his friends and gossiping,

1:00:28

strolling along to find him. Heard

1:00:31

the news, he said, as nothing

1:00:33

else being talked about, all

1:00:35

along the riverbank. Toad went

1:00:37

up to town by early train this morning,

1:00:40

and he was ordered a very large and

1:00:43

expensive motorcar. The

1:00:46

Wildwood The

1:00:49

Mole had long waited to make the acquaintance of the

1:00:51

Badger. He seemed by all

1:00:53

accounts to be such an important personage, and

1:00:56

rarely visible to make his unseen influence

1:00:58

felt by everybody about the place.

1:01:01

But whenever Mole mentioned his wish to the Water

1:01:03

Rat, he always found himself put off.

1:01:06

It's all right, the Rat would say. Badger

1:01:09

will turn up some day or another. He's always

1:01:11

turning up, and then I'll introduce

1:01:13

you. The best of fellows. But

1:01:16

you must not only take him as you

1:01:18

find him, but when you find him. Couldn't

1:01:21

you ask him here? Dinner or something?

1:01:23

said the Mole. He wouldn't

1:01:25

come, replied the Rat simply. Badger

1:01:28

hates society, and invitations, and

1:01:30

dinner, and all that sort of thing.

1:01:33

Well, then, supposing we

1:01:35

go call on him, suggested the Mole. Oh,

1:01:39

I'm sure he wouldn't like that at all,

1:01:41

said the Rat, quite alarmed. He's

1:01:43

so very shy, he'd be sure to

1:01:45

be offended. I never even ventured

1:01:47

to call on him at his own home myself,

1:01:50

though I know him so well. Besides,

1:01:52

we can't. It's quite out of

1:01:54

the question, because he lives in

1:01:56

the very middle of the Wildwood. Well,

1:02:00

suppose he does, said the Mole. You

1:02:02

told me the Wildwood was all right, you know. Oh,

1:02:05

I know. I know, so it is. I'm glad

1:02:07

they're at it evasively. But

1:02:09

I think we won't go there just now. Not

1:02:11

just yet. It's a long

1:02:14

way, and you wouldn't be at home at this time of

1:02:16

year anyhow. And I'll be coming

1:02:18

along some day, if you wait quietly. The

1:02:21

Mole had to be content with this, but

1:02:23

the Badger never came along, and

1:02:25

every day brought its amusements, and it

1:02:27

was not till summer was long over. The

1:02:30

cold and frost in mirey ways

1:02:32

kept them much indoors, and the

1:02:34

swollen river raced past outside their window

1:02:36

with a speed that mocked at boating of

1:02:39

any sort of kind, and he found

1:02:41

his thoughts toiling again and with

1:02:43

much persistence on the solitary Grey

1:02:45

Badger, who lived his own

1:02:47

life by himself in his hole

1:02:49

in the middle of the Wildwood. In

1:02:52

the wintertime, the rats lived a great deal,

1:02:55

retiring early and rising late. During

1:02:58

his short day, he sometimes scribbled poetry, or

1:03:01

did other small domestic jobs about the

1:03:04

house. And of course, there were always animals drooping

1:03:06

in for a chat. And consequently,

1:03:08

there was a good deal of storytelling,

1:03:10

and comparing notes on the past summer

1:03:12

and all his doings, such a rich

1:03:14

chapter had been, when one came to look

1:03:16

back at it all, with illustrations so

1:03:18

numerous and so very highly colored.

1:03:21

The pageant of the riverbank had marched steadily

1:03:23

along, unfolding itself in scene

1:03:26

pictures as it exceeded each other in

1:03:28

stately procession. Purple

1:03:31

loose-strife arrived early, shaking

1:03:33

luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of

1:03:35

the mire, once its own face

1:03:37

laughed back at it. Willow

1:03:40

herb, tender and wistful, like

1:03:42

a pink sunset cloud, was not slow

1:03:44

to follow. Comfrey, the

1:03:46

purple, hand in hand with the white,

1:03:49

crept forth to take its place in line, and

1:03:52

at last one morning the different

1:03:54

and delaying dog rows stepped

1:03:56

delicately on stage, and

1:03:59

one new as it was. of string music had

1:04:01

announced it in stately chords that strayed

1:04:03

into a govet that June was

1:04:05

at last here. One

1:04:08

member of the company was still awaited,

1:04:10

the shepherd boy for the nymphs to woo,

1:04:12

the knight for whom the ladies waited at the window,

1:04:15

the prince that was to kiss, the sleeping

1:04:17

summer back to life and love. But

1:04:20

one meadow-sweet, debonair, an odorous

1:04:22

and amber jerkin, moved graciously

1:04:25

to his place in the group, then

1:04:27

the play was ready to begin. And

1:04:30

what a play it had been! Drowsy

1:04:32

animals, snug in their holes while wind

1:04:35

and rain were battering at their doors, or

1:04:38

called still, keen mornings, an hour

1:04:40

before sunrise, while the white

1:04:42

mist, as yet undispersed, clung closely along

1:04:44

the surface of the water. Then

1:04:47

the shock of the early plunge, the

1:04:50

scamper along the bank, and the

1:04:52

radiant transformation of earth and

1:04:54

water, when suddenly the sun

1:04:56

was with them again, and grey was

1:04:58

gold, and color was born, and

1:05:01

sprang out of the earth once more. They

1:05:04

recalled the lingorius siesta of hot

1:05:06

midday, deep and green

1:05:08

undergrowth, the sun striking through

1:05:10

in many tiny golden

1:05:12

shafts and spots, the

1:05:14

boating and bathing of the afternoon,

1:05:16

the rambles along dusty lanes, and

1:05:19

through yellow cornfields, in a

1:05:21

long, cool evening at last. When

1:05:23

so many threads were gathered up, so

1:05:26

many friendships surrounded, and

1:05:28

so many adventures planned for the morrow, there

1:05:30

was plenty to talk about on those short

1:05:32

winter days when the animals found themselves around

1:05:34

the fire. Still, the mole

1:05:37

had a good deal of spare time on his hands, and

1:05:40

so one afternoon, when the rat in his armchair,

1:05:42

before the blaze was alternately dozing

1:05:45

and drying over rhymes that wouldn t fit, he

1:05:48

formed the resolution to go out by himself and

1:05:51

explore the wild wood, and perhaps

1:05:53

strike up an acquaintance with Mr. Badger. It

1:05:57

was a cold still afternoon with a

1:05:59

hard, steely, sky overhead when

1:06:01

he slipped out of the warm parlor into the open

1:06:03

air. The country lay

1:06:05

bare and tirely leafless around him, and

1:06:08

he thought that he had never seen so far and

1:06:10

intimately into the insides of things as

1:06:13

on that winter day when nature was

1:06:15

deep in her annual flumber and

1:06:17

seemed to have kicked the clothes off. Cops

1:06:20

as his dales, quarries, and

1:06:22

all hidden places, which had

1:06:24

been mysterious minds for exploration in leafy

1:06:27

summer, now exposed themselves

1:06:29

and their secrets pathetically, and

1:06:31

seemed to ask him to overlook their

1:06:34

shabby poverty for a while, that

1:06:36

they could riot in rich masquerades

1:06:38

before, and trick and

1:06:40

entice him with old deceptions. It

1:06:42

was pitiful in a way, and yet cheering, even

1:06:45

exhilarating. He was glad

1:06:48

that he liked the country undecorated,

1:06:50

hard, instructive its finery. He

1:06:52

had got down to the bare bones of it, and

1:06:54

they were fine and strong and simple. He

1:06:58

did not want the warm clover and

1:07:00

the play of seeding grasses, the screens

1:07:02

of quickset, the billowy drapery

1:07:04

of beach, and the elm seemed the

1:07:06

best away. And with great

1:07:08

cheerfulness of spirit he pushed on

1:07:10

toward the wild wood, which lay

1:07:12

before him low and threatening, like

1:07:15

a black reef in some still southern

1:07:17

sea. There

1:07:19

was nothing to alarm him at first entry. Twigs

1:07:22

crackled under his feet. Logs

1:07:24

tripped him, funguses on stumps

1:07:27

resembled caricatures, and startled

1:07:29

him for a moment by their likeness

1:07:31

to something familiar and far away. But

1:07:35

that was all fun and exciting. He

1:07:38

led him on, and he penetrated toward the

1:07:40

light was less, and the trees crouched nearer

1:07:42

and nearer, and holes made ugly

1:07:44

mounds at him at either side. Everything

1:07:48

was very still now. The dusk

1:07:50

advanced on him steadily, rapidly,

1:07:53

gathering in behind and before,

1:07:55

and the light seemed to be draining away

1:07:57

like flood water. Then the faces

1:07:59

began. It was

1:08:01

over his shoulder, and indistinctly, that

1:08:04

he first thought he saw a face, a

1:08:07

little evil wedge-shaped face, looking

1:08:09

out at him from a hole. When

1:08:11

he turned and confronted it, the thing

1:08:13

had vanished. He quickened

1:08:15

his pace, telling himself cheerfully

1:08:18

not to begin imagining things, or

1:08:20

there would be simply no end to it. He

1:08:23

passed another hole, and another, and another,

1:08:25

and then yes, no,

1:08:27

yes. Suddenly

1:08:30

a little narrow face, with hard

1:08:32

eyes, had flashed up for an instant

1:08:35

from a hole and was gone. He

1:08:38

hesitated, braced himself up for an effort,

1:08:40

and strode on. Then

1:08:42

suddenly, and as if it had been so

1:08:45

all the time, every hole far

1:08:47

and near, and there were hundreds of them,

1:08:49

seemed to possess its face, coming

1:08:52

and going rapidly, all

1:08:54

fixing on him glances of malice and

1:08:56

hatred, all hard-eyed and

1:08:58

evil and sharp. If

1:09:00

he could only get away from the holes in

1:09:02

the banks, he thought, there would be no more

1:09:04

faces. He swung off the

1:09:07

path and plunged into the untrodden places in

1:09:09

the wood. Then

1:09:11

the whistling began, very faint

1:09:14

and shrill it was, and far behind

1:09:16

him, when he first heard it. But

1:09:19

somehow it made him hurry forward. Then,

1:09:22

still very faint and shrill, it

1:09:24

sounded far ahead of him, and made

1:09:26

him hesitate and want to go back. As

1:09:28

he halted an indecision, it

1:09:31

broke out on either side, and seemed

1:09:33

to be caught up and passed on throughout

1:09:35

the whole length of the wood to its

1:09:37

furthest limit. They were

1:09:39

up and alert and ready, evidently, whoever

1:09:41

they were. And he, he

1:09:44

was alone and unarmed, and

1:09:46

far from any help, and the night was

1:09:48

closing in. Then

1:09:51

the pattering began. He

1:09:53

thought it was only falling leaves at first. So

1:09:55

slight and delicate was the sound of it. Then,

1:09:59

as it grew, it took off. a regular rhythm, and

1:10:01

he knew it for nothing else but the pat,

1:10:04

pat, pat of little feet, still

1:10:06

a very long way off, was

1:10:09

it in front or behind? It

1:10:11

seemed to be first one, then the other, then

1:10:14

both. It grew

1:10:16

and multiplied till from every quarter

1:10:18

as he listened anxiously, leaning

1:10:20

this way and that, it seemed to

1:10:23

be closing in on him. As

1:10:25

he stood still to hear keen, a

1:10:27

rabbit came running hard towards him through the trees.

1:10:30

He waited, expecting it to slack and

1:10:32

pace, or to soar from him into

1:10:34

a different chorus. Instead, the

1:10:37

animal brushed him as it dashed past,

1:10:39

his face set in hard, his eyes

1:10:41

staring. Get out of this, you

1:10:43

fool, get out. The

1:10:46

mole heard him mutter as he swung right a

1:10:48

stump and disappeared down a friendly burrow. The

1:10:52

patterning increased till it sounded like a sudden

1:10:54

hail on a dry-leaf carpet spread

1:10:56

around him. The whole

1:10:58

wood seemed running now, running hard,

1:11:01

hunting, chasing, closing

1:11:03

and ran something or

1:11:05

somebody. In panic, he began to

1:11:07

run too. Aimlessly, he knew

1:11:10

that whether he ran

1:11:12

up against things, he fell over things and

1:11:14

into things. He darted under

1:11:16

things and dodged round things. At

1:11:19

last he took refuge in the

1:11:21

deep dark hollow of an old beech tree, which

1:11:23

offered shelter, concealment, perhaps

1:11:26

even safety. But who could tell?

1:11:30

Anyhow, he was too tired to run

1:11:32

any further and could only snuggle down into

1:11:34

the dry leaves which had drifted

1:11:36

into the hollow, and I hope he was

1:11:38

safe for a time. And as he lay

1:11:41

there panting and trembling, and listened

1:11:43

to the wifflings and the patterings outside,

1:11:46

he knew it at last, in all its

1:11:48

fullness. That dread thing which

1:11:50

gathered little dwellers in the field, and

1:11:53

had to go out and counter here, and

1:11:55

known at their darkest moment. That

1:11:57

thing which read had vainly tried to shield him.

1:12:00

from, the terror of

1:12:02

the wildwood. Meantime

1:12:05

the Rat, warm and comfortable, dozed

1:12:07

by his fireside. His paper

1:12:10

of half-finished verses slipped from his knee,

1:12:12

his head fell back, his mouth open,

1:12:14

and he wandered by the verdant banks

1:12:16

of Dream River. Then

1:12:19

a call slipped, the fire crackled and

1:12:21

sent up a spurn of flame, and he

1:12:23

woke with a start. Remembering what

1:12:25

he had been engaged upon, he reached down

1:12:27

to the floor for his verses, poured

1:12:29

over them for a minute, and then

1:12:31

looked around for the Mole to ask if he knew

1:12:34

a good rhyme for something or other. While

1:12:36

the Mole was not there, he listened

1:12:39

for a time, the house seemed very

1:12:41

quiet. Then he called,

1:12:43

Moly, several times, and

1:12:46

receiving no answer, got up and

1:12:48

went out into the hall. The

1:12:50

Mole's cap was missing from its accustomed peg.

1:12:53

His galoshes, which always lay by the

1:12:55

umbrella stand, were also gone. The

1:12:58

Rat left the house and carefully examined

1:13:00

the muddy surface on the ground outside,

1:13:02

hoping to find the Mole's tracks. There

1:13:06

they were, sure enough. The

1:13:08

galoshes were new, just bought for the winter,

1:13:11

and the pimples and their souls were fresh and

1:13:13

sharp. He could see the imprints

1:13:15

of them in the mud, running along

1:13:17

straight and purposeful, leading

1:13:19

direct to the Wildwood. The

1:13:23

Rat looked very grave, and stood in

1:13:25

deep thought for a minute or two. Then

1:13:28

he reentered the house, strapped a belt

1:13:30

around his waist, shoved a brace

1:13:32

of pistols into it, took up

1:13:34

a stout cudgel that stood in the corner of

1:13:36

the hall, and set off for

1:13:38

the Wildwood at a smart pace. He

1:13:41

was already getting towards dusk when he reached

1:13:43

the first fringe of trees and plunged, into

1:13:46

the wood, looking anxiously on

1:13:48

either side for any sign of his friend.

1:13:52

Here and there, wicked little faces popped

1:13:54

out of holes, who vanished

1:13:56

immediately at the sight of the valorous

1:13:58

animal, his pistol. And

1:14:00

the great and com and as crass. And

1:14:04

the wiggling and patterns. Which.

1:14:06

He had heard quite plainly on his first

1:14:08

entry. Died. Away and ceased.

1:14:10

And. All was very still. He.

1:14:13

Made his way manfully to the length of the

1:14:15

would. To. For the stage. Then.

1:14:18

The second. Or perhaps. He. Said

1:14:21

himself to to versa. Laboriously

1:14:23

working over the whole ground. And.

1:14:25

All the time calling out cheerfully

1:14:27

molly. Molly Molly.

1:14:30

Where. Are you. It's. All rak.

1:14:34

He. Had patiently hunt into the word for an

1:14:36

hour more. When. At last to

1:14:38

his joy. He had a little

1:14:40

answering cry. Cutting.

1:14:42

Himself by the sound, made his way

1:14:44

to the gathering darkness. To. The foot

1:14:47

of an old beech tree. With

1:14:49

a homeowner. From our the

1:14:51

whole came a fever voice thing. Ratty.

1:14:55

Is. That really? you? The.

1:14:57

Rat crept into the hello. And. Their

1:14:59

he's on them all. Exhausted and

1:15:01

still trembling. Oh

1:15:03

rat he cried. I've been

1:15:05

so fi nd can't think. Oh,

1:15:08

I quite understand to the rat soothingly.

1:15:11

He. Generally have gone and done it more. I.

1:15:13

Did my best to keep you from. We.

1:15:16

River Bankers. We hardly ever come up

1:15:18

here by ourselves. If we

1:15:20

have to come. At

1:15:23

least. Then we're generally all right,

1:15:26

Besides, there. Are a hundred

1:15:28

things as know. What? We understand

1:15:30

all about. And you don't as

1:15:32

yeah. I mean passwords

1:15:35

and signs. And sayings which

1:15:37

her power and a set. Implants

1:15:39

you carrying your pocket, And

1:15:41

vs you repeat. The. Nodded and

1:15:43

tricks you practice. All simple

1:15:45

enough when you know them. But. The

1:15:47

gotta be known, if you're small, where you'll

1:15:50

find yourself in trouble. Of

1:15:52

course if you are badger, order.

1:15:55

Will be quite another matter. Surely.

1:15:57

The brave Mister Toad wouldn't mind coming here.

1:16:00

by himself what he inquired the Mole.

1:16:03

"'Old Toad,' said Rat, laughing

1:16:05

heartily. He wouldn't show

1:16:07

his face here alone, not for

1:16:09

a whole hatful of golden guineas

1:16:11

toad wooden. The Mole was

1:16:13

greatly cheered by the sound of Rat's

1:16:15

careless laughter, as well by

1:16:17

the sight of his stick and his gleaming

1:16:20

pistols. He stopped shivering

1:16:22

and began to feel bolder the more

1:16:24

himself again. "'Now

1:16:26

then,' said the Rat presently, "'We

1:16:28

really must pull ourselves together and make

1:16:31

a start for home while there's still little light left.

1:16:34

It will never do to spend the night here, you

1:16:36

understand.' "'Too cold for one

1:16:38

thing,' said the Mole. "'Dear Ratty,' said poor Mole.

1:16:41

"'I'm dreadfully sorry, but I'm simply

1:16:43

deadbeat, and that's a solid fact.

1:16:46

You must let me rest here a while longer and

1:16:48

get my strength back if I'm to get home at

1:16:51

all.' "'Oh, all

1:16:53

right,' said the good-natured Rat. "'Rest

1:16:55

away. It's pretty nearly

1:16:57

pitch dark now, anyhow, and there

1:16:59

ought to be a good bit of moon later.' So

1:17:03

the Mole got well into the dry leaves and

1:17:05

stretched himself out, and presently

1:17:07

dropped off into sleep, though

1:17:09

of a broken and troubled sort, while

1:17:11

the Rat covered himself up too, as

1:17:14

best he might for warmth, and

1:17:16

lay patiently waiting, with a pistol in

1:17:18

his paw. When at last the

1:17:20

Mole woke up, much refreshed and in

1:17:22

his usual spirit, the Rat said,

1:17:25

"'Now then, I'll just take a

1:17:27

look outside and see if everything's quiet, and

1:17:30

then we really must be off.' He

1:17:33

went to the entrance of their retreat and

1:17:35

put his head out. Then the

1:17:37

Mole heard him saying quietly to himself,

1:17:39

"'Hello, hello, here is a go.' "'What's

1:17:45

up, Ratty?' asked the Mole. "'Snow

1:17:48

is up,' replied Rat briefly, or

1:17:51

rather, down. It's snowy

1:17:53

hard.' The Mole came and

1:17:55

crouched beside him, and looking out, saw

1:17:57

the wood that had been so dreadful to him."

1:18:00

In. In quite chain. Saw.

1:18:02

The would have been so dreadful to him.

1:18:05

He. Pointed changed aspect. Holes.

1:18:08

Hollows Pools Pitfalls. Another

1:18:10

black menaces to the way. fair. Are.

1:18:13

Vanishing fast And gleaming carpet of

1:18:15

ferry. The. Spring up everywhere.

1:18:18

I. Look too delicate to be trying on

1:18:20

my roof. A. Fine

1:18:22

powder sell the air and caress the t.

1:18:25

The. Tengo And that's. And

1:18:27

the black balls in the trees showed up

1:18:29

in a light that seem to come from

1:18:31

below. Well. Well.

1:18:34

They. Can't be helps And the right after

1:18:36

nine. When. Must make a star

1:18:38

and take our chances of. The.

1:18:41

Worst of it. I know exactly where

1:18:43

we are. Now the snow

1:18:46

makes everything look very different. The.

1:18:48

Did indeed. The. More would

1:18:50

not know that it was the same would. However,

1:18:54

They. Set up bravely. Nato

1:18:56

for line that seem most promising. Holding.

1:18:59

On to each other. And pretending with

1:19:01

an insult cheerfulness. That. They recognized

1:19:03

and will chime. In. Every fresh

1:19:06

tree. Grimly and silently greeted

1:19:08

him. Or. Saw openings and

1:19:10

gaps. Are paths with a

1:19:12

familiar time that. The monotony

1:19:15

of voice. ice. And. Black tree

1:19:17

trunks that refuse to very. An

1:19:20

hour or two later, They. Had lost

1:19:22

all kind of time. They. Pulled

1:19:24

up, dispirited, weary and hopelessly

1:19:26

at sea. And. Sat down

1:19:28

on a fallen tree trunk to recover their

1:19:31

breath and consider what was to be. Don't.

1:19:34

There are aching with fatigue and bruised

1:19:36

with tumbles. And the phone

1:19:38

to several holes and got way through. The

1:19:41

snow is getting so deep. That. They

1:19:43

could hardly drag their little legs through it. And

1:19:46

the trees were thicker and more like each other

1:19:48

than over. There. Seem to

1:19:50

be no end to this. would. You

1:19:52

know, beginning? No difference in it. And

1:19:55

worst of all. No. Way out. We.

1:19:58

Can sit here very long said. That.

1:20:00

We shall have to make another push for it

1:20:02

and do something or other. A cold

1:20:05

is too awful for anything. And

1:20:07

the snow soon be too depressed to wade

1:20:09

through. He peered about

1:20:11

him and considered. Look here He

1:20:13

went on. This. Is what occurs

1:20:15

to me. There's. Sort of

1:20:17

a dell down there in front of us. Were.

1:20:20

The ground seems all and have

1:20:22

been hannity. Will make our

1:20:24

way down into that. And try to

1:20:26

find some sort of shelter. A

1:20:28

cave or whole with a dry floor to it.

1:20:31

Out of the snow in the wind. And.

1:20:33

There will have a good rest before we try

1:20:36

again. For. Were both of us

1:20:38

pretty dead? Be. A size

1:20:40

the snow may leave off or something they

1:20:42

turn out. To. Want

1:20:44

more? They got on their feet and

1:20:46

struggled into the dell. Where. They

1:20:48

hunted about for a cave are some

1:20:50

corner that was dry. And

1:20:52

a protection from the keen wind and

1:20:54

the whirling snow. They

1:20:56

were investigating one of the hunky ditch

1:20:59

the red spoken on. When. Suddenly.

1:21:01

More. Tripped and fell forward on his

1:21:04

face with a squeal. Oh

1:21:06

my leg he cried. Oh

1:21:08

my poor shame. He.

1:21:11

Sat up on the snow and nurses leg

1:21:13

and both his front paws. Poor.

1:21:16

Old mall said the rak only. You.

1:21:18

Don't seem to be having much luck to they do

1:21:20

you? Let's. Have a look

1:21:22

at the like. Yes, He

1:21:25

went on going on is nice to look. You've.

1:21:27

Cut your shin. Sure enough, We.

1:21:30

Till I get up my handkerchief and all tied

1:21:32

up for you. I

1:21:34

must have tripped over hidden branch or

1:21:36

a stump to the mall miserably. Oh

1:21:39

my oh my. It's

1:21:41

very clean cut said the rat. Examining

1:21:44

it again attentively. That

1:21:46

was never done by a branch or is stan.

1:21:49

Looks as if there was made by. A

1:21:51

sharp edges something and metal. Funny.

1:21:55

He pondered a while. and examined

1:21:57

the hunt and slopes that surrounded

1:21:59

them Well, never mind

1:22:01

what done it," said the Mole, forgetting

1:22:03

his grammar and his pain. It

1:22:06

hurts just the same, whatever done it. But

1:22:09

the Rat, after carefully tying up his

1:22:11

leg with his handkerchief, had

1:22:13

left him and was busy scraping in all

1:22:15

the snow. He

1:22:17

scratched and shoveled and explored, all

1:22:20

four legs working busily, while

1:22:23

the Mole waited impatiently, remarking

1:22:25

at Irvold. Oh,

1:22:27

come on, Rat. Suddenly

1:22:30

the Rat cried, hooray, and

1:22:33

then hooray, hooray, hooray, and

1:22:36

fell to executing a feeble jig in

1:22:39

the snow. What

1:22:41

have you found, Ratty? asked the Mole,

1:22:43

still nursing his leg. Come

1:22:46

and see, said the delighted Rat

1:22:48

as he jigged on. The

1:22:51

Mole hobbled up to the spot and

1:22:53

had a good look. Well,

1:22:55

he said at last, slowly, I see

1:22:58

it right enough. Seen

1:23:00

the same sort of thing before, lots of times.

1:23:04

Familiar object, I call it. A

1:23:06

door scraper. Well, what of

1:23:08

it? Why dance jigs around

1:23:10

a door scraper? But

1:23:13

don't you see what it means? You

1:23:15

know, would it, Animal? cried the

1:23:17

Rat impatiently. Of

1:23:19

course I see what it means, replied the Mole. It

1:23:22

simply means that some very

1:23:24

careless and forgetful person

1:23:27

has left his door scraper lying about in

1:23:29

the middle of the wild wood, just

1:23:32

where it's sure to trip everybody up.

1:23:35

Very thoughtless of him, I call it. When

1:23:38

I get home I shall go and complain about it,

1:23:40

too, to somebody or other. See

1:23:43

if I don't. Oh, dear,

1:23:45

oh, dear, cried the Rat, and

1:23:48

despair at his obtuseness. After

1:23:50

some further toil. His

1:24:00

efforts were rewarded, and a

1:24:02

very shabby doormat lay exposed to

1:24:04

few. There,

1:24:06

what did I tell you? Exclaim

1:24:09

the rat in great triumph. Absolutely

1:24:11

nothing, whatever, replied the Mole

1:24:14

with perfect truthfulness. Well,

1:24:17

now, he went on. He

1:24:19

seemed to have found another piece of domestic

1:24:21

litter, done for and thrown

1:24:23

away. I suppose you're perfectly

1:24:25

happy. Sure go ahead

1:24:27

and dance your jig around it, if that's what you've

1:24:29

got to do. Get it

1:24:31

over, and then perhaps we can go

1:24:34

and not waste any more time over rubbish

1:24:36

heaps. Can we

1:24:38

eat a doormat, or sleep

1:24:40

under a doormat, or sit on a

1:24:42

doormat, and sledge home over the

1:24:44

snow on it, you exasperating

1:24:47

rodent? Do

1:24:49

you mean to say, cry

1:24:52

the excited rat, that

1:24:54

this doormat doesn't tell you anything?

1:24:58

Really, rat, said the Mole quite

1:25:00

pettishly. I think we had

1:25:02

enough of this folly. Whoever

1:25:04

heard of a doormat, telling anyone

1:25:06

anything? They simply don't do it.

1:25:09

They're not the sort at all. Doormats

1:25:12

know their place. Now

1:25:14

look here, you thick-headed

1:25:16

beast, replied the rat, really

1:25:18

angry. This must stop. Not

1:25:21

another word, but scrape, scrape

1:25:24

and scratch and dig and hunt

1:25:26

around, but especially on the side

1:25:28

of the hummocks, if you want

1:25:30

to sleep dry and warm tonight, for

1:25:33

it's our last chance. The

1:25:35

rat attacked a snowbank beside them with

1:25:37

archer, probing with his cudgel

1:25:40

everywhere and then digging with fury, and

1:25:43

the Mole scraped busily too, more

1:25:45

to oblige the rat than for any other

1:25:47

reason. Or his opinion was

1:25:49

that his friend was getting a

1:25:52

little lightheaded. Some

1:25:54

ten minutes' hard work, and the

1:25:56

point of the rat's cudgel struck something that

1:25:58

sounded hollow. He

1:26:01

worked till he could get his paw through

1:26:03

and feel, then called to the Mole to come up

1:26:05

and help him. Hard

1:26:07

at it went the two animals, to the last

1:26:10

of the result of their labors, stood full

1:26:12

in view of the astonished

1:26:14

and hitherto incredulous Mole. In

1:26:17

the side of what had seemed to

1:26:19

be a snowbank stood a solid-looking door,

1:26:21

painted a dark green, an

1:26:23

iron bell-pole hung by the side, and below

1:26:26

it, on a small brass plate,

1:26:29

neatly engraved in square capital letters

1:26:32

that could read by the aid of the moonlight. Mr.

1:26:35

Badger. The

1:26:37

Mole fell backwards on the snow for a

1:26:39

sheer surprise and delight. Rat,

1:26:42

he cried in penitence, you're

1:26:44

a wonder, a real wonder, that's

1:26:47

what you are. I see it

1:26:49

all now. You are

1:26:51

greeted out step by step in that

1:26:53

wise head of yours from the very

1:26:55

moment that I fell and cut my

1:26:57

shin, and he looked at the cut, and

1:26:59

at once your majestic mind said to

1:27:01

itself, Doorscraper. And

1:27:04

then you turned and found the very

1:27:07

Doorscraper that done it. Did

1:27:09

you stop there? No. Some

1:27:12

people would have been quite satisfied, but

1:27:14

not you. Your intellect went

1:27:16

on working. Let me only

1:27:19

just find a doormat, says you

1:27:21

to yourself, and my theory is

1:27:23

proved. And of course you

1:27:25

found your doormat. You're so clever.

1:27:28

I believe you could find anything you liked. Now,

1:27:31

says you, that door exists

1:27:33

as plain as if I saw it. There's

1:27:36

nothing else remains to be done but to find it. Well,

1:27:40

I've read about that sort of thing in

1:27:42

books, but I've never come across it before,

1:27:44

in real life. You ought to

1:27:46

go where you'll be properly appreciated. You're

1:27:49

simply wasting here among us fellows. If

1:27:52

I only had your head ready. What?

1:27:55

As you haven't interrupted the

1:27:57

rat, rather unkindly. I

1:28:00

suppose you're going to sit on the snow all night and

1:28:02

talk. Get up

1:28:04

at once and hang on to that bell

1:28:06

pole you see there and ring hard, as

1:28:08

hard as you can while I hammer. While

1:28:11

the rat attacked the door with his stick, the

1:28:14

mole sprang up at the bell pole, clutched

1:28:16

it, and swung there, both

1:28:18

feet well off the ground, and

1:28:20

from quite a long way off, they could

1:28:23

faintly hear a deep-toned bell

1:28:25

respond. Thank

1:28:33

you for listening to Sleepy. Good

1:28:35

night.