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the best house in these parts； AS a house。 But supposing a fire breaks out
where's Toad？ Supposing tiles are blown off； or walls sink or crack； or
windows get brokenwhere's Toad？ Supposing the rooms are draughtyI
HATE a draught myselfwhere's Toad？ No； up and out of doors is good
enough to roam about and get one's living in； but underground to come
back to at lastthat's my idea of HOME'
The Mole assented heartily； and the Badger in consequence got very
friendly with him。 ‘When lunch is over；' he said； ‘I'll take you all round
this little place of mine。 I can see you'll appreciate it。 You understand what
domestic architecture ought to be； you do。'
After luncheon； accordingly； when the other two had settled
themselves into the chimney…corner and had started a heated argument on
the subject of EELS； the Badger lighted a lantern and bade the Mole
follow him。 Crossing the hall； they passed down one of the principal
tunnels； and the wavering light of the lantern gave glimpses on either side
of rooms both large and small； some mere cupboards； others nearly as
broad and imposing as Toad's dining…hall。 A narrow passage at right angles
led them into another corridor； and here the same thing was repeated。 The
Mole was staggered at the size； the extent； the ramifications of it all； at the
length of the dim passages； the solid vaultings of the crammed store…
chambers； the masonry everywhere； the pillars； the arches； the pavements。
‘How on earth； Badger；' he said at last； ‘did you ever find time and
strength to do all this？ It's astonishing！'
‘It WOULD be astonishing indeed；' said the Badger simply； ‘if I HAD
done it。 But as a matter of fact I did none of itonly cleaned out the
passages and chambers； as far as I had need of them。 There's lots more of
it； all round about。 I see you don't understand； and I must explain it to you。
Well； very long ago； on the spot where the Wild Wood waves now； before
ever it had planted itself and grown up to what it now is； there was a city
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a city of people； you know。 Here； where we are standing； they lived； and
walked； and talked； and slept； and carried on their business。 Here they
stabled their horses and feasted； from here they rode out to fight or drove
out to trade。 They were a powerful people； and rich； and great builders。
They built to last； for they thought their city would last for ever。'
‘But what has become of them all？' asked the Mole。
‘Who can tell？' said the Badger。 ‘People comethey stay for a while；
they flourish； they buildand they go。 It is their way。 But we remain。
There were badgers here； I've been told； long before that same city ever
came to be。 And now there are badgers here again。 We are an enduring lot；
and we may move out for a time； but we wait； and are patient； and back
we come。 And so it will ever be。'
‘Well； and when they went at last； those people？' said the Mole。
‘When they went；' continued the Badger； ‘the strong winds and
persistent rains took the matter in hand； patiently； ceaselessly； year after
year。 Perhaps we badgers too； in our small way； helped a littlewho knows？
It was all down； down； down； graduallyruin and levelling and
disappearance。 Then it was all up； up； up； gradually； as seeds grew to
saplings； and saplings to forest trees； and bramble and fern came creeping
in to help。 Leaf…mould rose and obliterated； streams in their winter freshets
brought sand and soil to clog and to cover； and in course of time our home
was ready for us again； and we moved in。 Up above us； on the surface； the
same thing happened。 Animals arrived； liked the look of the place； took up
their quarters； settled down； spread； and flourished。 They didn't bother
themselves about the pastthey never do； they're too busy。 The place was
a bit humpy and hillocky； naturally； and full of holes； but that was rather
an advantage。 And they don't bother about the future； either the future
when perhaps the people will move in againfor a timeas may very well
be。 The Wild Wood is pretty well populated by now； with all the usual lot；
good； bad； and indifferentI name no names。 It takes all sorts to make a
world。 But I fancy you know something about them yourself by this time。'
‘I do indeed；' said the Mole； with a slight shiver。
‘Well； well；' said the Badger； patting him on the shoulder； ‘it was your
first experience of them； you see。 They're not so bad really； and we must
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all live and let live。 But I'll pass the word around to…morrow； and I think
you'll have no further trouble。 Any friend of MINE walks where he likes
in this country； or I'll know the reason why！'
When they got back to the kitchen again； they found the Rat walking
up and down； very restless。 The underground atmosphere was oppressing
him and getting on his nerves； and he seemed really to be afraid that the
river would run away if he wasn't there to look after it。 So he had his
overcoat on； and his pistols thrust into his belt again。 ‘Come along； Mole；'
he said anxiously； as soon as he caught sight of them。 ‘We must get off
while it's daylight。 Don't want to spend another night in the Wild Wood
again。'
‘It'll be all right； my fine fellow；' said the Otter。 ‘I'm coming along with
you； and I know every path blindfold； and if there's a head that needs to be
punched； you can confidently rely upon me to punch it。'
‘You really needn't fret； Ratty；' added the Badger placidly。 ‘My
passages run further than you think； and I've bolt…holes to the edge of the
wood in several directions； though I don't care for everybody to know
about them。 When you really have to go； you shall leave by one of my
short cuts。 Meantime； make yourself easy； and sit down again。'
The Rat was nevertheless still anxious to be off and attend to his river；
so the Badger； taking up his lantern again； led the way along a damp and
airless tunnel that wound and dipped； part vaulted； part hewn through solid
rock； for a weary distance that seemed to be miles。 At last daylight began
to show itself confusedly through tangled growth overhanging the mouth
of the passage； and the Badger； bidding them a hasty good…bye； pushed
them hurriedly through the opening； made everything look as natural as
possible again； with creepers； brushwood； and dead leaves； and retreated。
They found themselves standing on the very edge of the Wild Wood。
Rocks and brambles and tree…roots behind them； confusedly heaped and
tangled； in front； a great space of quiet fields； hemmed by lines of hedges
black on the snow； and； far ahead； a glint of the familiar old river； while
the wintry sun hung red and low on the horizon。 The Otter； as knowing all
the paths； took charge of the party； and they trailed out on a bee…line for a
distant stile。 Pausing there a moment and looking back； they saw the
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whole mass of the Wild Wood； dense； menacing； compact； grimly set in
vast white surroundings； simultaneously they turned and made swiftly for
home； for firelight and the familiar things it played on； for the voice；
sounding cheerily outside their window； of the river that they knew and
trusted in all its moods； that never made them afraid with any amazement。
As he hurried along； eagerly anticipating the moment when he would
be at home again among the things he knew and liked； the Mole saw
clearly that he was an animal of tilled field and hedge… row； linked to the
ploughed furrow； the frequented pasture； the lane of evening lingerings；
the cultivated garden…plot。 For others the asperities； the stubborn
endurance； or the clash of actual conflict； that went with Nature in the
rough； he must be wise； must keep to the pleasant places in which his lines
were laid and which held adventure enough； in their