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rough； he must be wise； must keep to the pleasant places in which his lines
were laid and which held adventure enough； in their way； to last for a
lifetime。
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CHAPTER V
DULCE DOMUM
The sheep ran huddling together against the hurdles； blowing out thin
nostrils and stamping with delicate fore…feet； their heads thrown back and
a light steam rising from the crowded sheep…pen into the frosty air； as the
two animals hastened by in high spirits； with much chatter and laughter。
They were returning across country after a long day's outing with Otter；
hunting and exploring on the wide uplands where certain streams tributary
to their own River had their first small beginnings； and the shades of the
short winter day were closing in on them； and they had still some distance
to go。 Plodding at random across the plough； they had heard the sheep and
had made for them； and now； leading from the sheep…pen； they found a
beaten track that made walking a lighter business； and responded；
moreover； to that small inquiring something which all animals carry inside
them； saying unmistakably； ‘Yes； quite right； THIS leads home！'
‘It looks as if we were coming to a village；' said the Mole somewhat
dubiously； slackening his pace； as the track； that had in time become a path
and then had developed into a lane； now handed them over to the charge of
a well…metalled road。 The animals did not hold with villages； and their
own highways； thickly frequented as they were； took an independent
course； regardless of church； post office； or public…house。
‘Oh； never mind！' said the Rat。 ‘At this season of the year they're all
safe indoors by this time； sitting round the fire； men； women； and children；
dogs and cats and all。 We shall slip through all right； without any bother or
unpleasantness； and we can have a look at them through their windows if
you like； and see what they're doing。'
The rapid nightfall of mid…December had quite beset the little village
as they approached it on soft feet over a first thin fall of powdery snow。
Little was visible but squares of a dusky orange…red on either side of the
street； where the firelight or lamplight of each cottage overflowed through
the casements into the dark world without。 Most of the low latticed
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
windows were innocent of blinds； and to the lookers…in from outside； the
inmates； gathered round the tea…table； absorbed in handiwork； or talking
with laughter and gesture； had each that happy grace which is the last
thing the skilled actor shall capturethe natural grace which goes with
perfect unconsciousness of observation。 Moving at will from one theatre
to another； the two spectators； so far from home themselves； had
something of wistfulness in their eyes as they watched a cat being stroked；
a sleepy child picked up and huddled off to bed； or a tired man stretch and
knock out his pipe on the end of a smouldering log。
But it was from one little window； with its blind drawn down； a mere
blank transparency on the night； that the sense of home and the little
curtained world within wallsthe larger stressful world of outside Nature
shut out and forgottenmost pulsated。 Close against the white blind hung
a bird…cage； clearly silhouetted； every wire； perch； and appurtenance
distinct and recognisable； even to yesterday's dull…edged lump of sugar。
On the middle perch the fluffy occupant； head tucked well into feathers；
seemed so near to them as to be easily stroked； had they tried； even the
delicate tips of his plumped…out plumage pencilled plainly on the
illuminated screen。 As they looked； the sleepy little fellow stirred uneasily；
woke； shook himself； and raised his head。 They could see the gape of his
tiny beak as he yawned in a bored sort of way； looked round； and then
settled his head into his back again； while the ruffled feathers gradually
subsided into perfect stillness。 Then a gust of bitter wind took them in the
back of the neck； a small sting of frozen sleet on the skin woke them as
from a dream； and they knew their toes to be cold and their legs tired； and
their own home distant a weary way。
Once beyond the village； where the cottages ceased abruptly； on either
side of the road they could smell through the darkness the friendly fields
again； and they braced themselves for the last long stretch； the home
stretch； the stretch that we know is bound to end； some time； in the rattle
of the door…latch； the sudden firelight； and the sight of familiar things
greeting us as long…absent travellers from far over…sea。 They plodded
along steadily and silently； each of them thinking his own thoughts。 The
Mole's ran a good deal on supper； as it was pitch…dark； and it was all a
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strange country for him as far as he knew； and he was following
obediently in the wake of the Rat； leaving the guidance entirely to him。 As
for the Rat； he was walking a little way ahead； as his habit was； his
shoulders humped； his eyes fixed on the straight grey road in front of him；
so he did not notice poor Mole when suddenly the summons reached him；
and took him like an electric shock。
We others； who have long lost the more subtle of the physical senses；
have not even proper terms to express an animal's inter… communications
with his surroundings； living or otherwise； and have only the word ‘smell；'
for instance； to include the whole range of delicate thrills which murmur
in the nose of the animal night and day； summoning； warning？ inciting；
repelling。 It was one of these mysterious fairy calls from out the void that
suddenly reached Mole in the darkness； making him tingle through and
through with its very familiar appeal； even while yet he could not clearly
remember what it was。 He stopped dead in his tracks； his nose searching
hither and thither in its efforts to recapture the fine filament； the
telegraphic current； that had so strongly moved him。 A moment； and he
had caught it again； and with it this time came recollection in fullest flood。
Home！ That was what they meant； those caressing appeals； those soft
touches wafted through the air； those invisible little hands pulling and
tugging； all one way！ Why； it must be quite close by him at that moment；
his old home that he had hurriedly forsaken and never sought again； that
day when he first found the river！ And now it was sending out its scouts
and its messengers to capture him and bring him in。 Since his escape on
that bright morning he had hardly given it a thought； so absorbed had he
been in his new life； in all its pleasures； its surprises； its fresh and
captivating experiences。 Now； with a rush of old memories； how clearly it
stood up before him； in the darkness！ Shabby indeed； and small and poorly
furnished； and yet his； the home he had made for himself； the home he had
been so happy to get back to after his day's work。 And the home had been
happy with him； too； evidently； and was missing him； and wanted him
back； and was telling him so； through his nose； sorrowfully； reproachfully；
but with no bitterness or anger； only with plaintive reminder that it was
there； and wanted him。
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The call was clear； the summons was plain。 He must obey it instantly；
and go。 ‘Ratty！' he called； full of joyful excitement； ‘hold on！ Come back！
I want you； quick！'
‘Oh； COME along； Mole； do！' replied the Rat cheerfully； still plodding
along。
‘PLEASE stop； Ratty！' pleaded the poor Mole； in anguish of heart。
‘You don't understand！ It's my home； my old home！ I've just come across
the smell of it； and it's close by here； really quite close。 And I MUST go to
it； I must； I must！ Oh