按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it； I must； I must！ Oh； come back； Ratty！ Please； please come back！'
The Rat was by this time very far ahead； too far to hear clearly what
the Mole was calling； too far to catch the sharp note of painful appeal in
his voice。 And he was much taken up with the weather； for he too could
smell somethingsomething suspiciously like approaching snow。
‘Mole； we mustn't stop now； really！' he called back。 ‘We'll come for it
to…morrow； whatever it is you've found。 But I daren't stop nowit's late；
and the snow's coming on again； and I'm not sure of the way！ And I want
your nose； Mole； so come on quick； there's a good fellow！' And the Rat
pressed forward on his way without waiting for an answer。
Poor Mole stood alone in the road； his heart torn asunder； and a big
sob gathering； gathering； somewhere low down inside him； to leap up to
the surface presently； he knew； in passionate escape。 But even under such a
test as this his loyalty to his friend stood firm。 Never for a moment did he
dream of abandoning him。 Meanwhile； the wafts from his old home
pleaded； whispered； conjured； and finally claimed him imperiously。 He
dared not tarry longer within their magic circle。 With a wrench that tore
his very heartstrings he set his face down the road and followed
submissively in the track of the Rat； while faint； thin little smells； still
dogging his retreating nose； reproached him for his new friendship and his
callous forgetfulness。
With an effort he caught up to the unsuspecting Rat； who began
chattering cheerfully about what they would do when they got back； and
how jolly a fire of logs in the parlour would be； and what a supper he
meant to eat； never noticing his companion's silence and distressful state
of mind。 At last； however； when they had gone some considerable way
51
… Page 52…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
further； and were passing some tree…stumps at the edge of a copse that
bordered the road； he stopped and said kindly； ‘Look here； Mole old chap；
you seem dead tired。 No talk left in you； and your feet dragging like lead。
We'll sit down here for a minute and rest。 The snow has held off so far； and
the best part of our journey is over。'
The Mole subsided forlornly on a tree…stump and tried to control
himself； for he felt it surely coming。 The sob he had fought with so long
refused to be beaten。 Up and up； it forced its way to the air； and then
another； and another； and others thick and fast； till poor Mole at last gave
up the struggle； and cried freely and helplessly and openly； now that he
knew it was all over and he had lost what he could hardly be said to have
found。
The Rat； astonished and dismayed at the violence of Mole's paroxysm
of grief； did not dare to speak for a while。 At last he said； very quietly and
sympathetically； ‘What is it； old fellow？ Whatever can be the matter？ Tell
us your trouble； and let me see what I can do。'
Poor Mole found it difficult to get any words out between the
upheavals of his chest that followed one upon another so quickly and held
back speech and choked it as it came。 ‘I know it's a shabby； dingy little
place；' he sobbed forth at last； brokenly： ‘not likeyour cosy quartersor
Toad's beautiful hallor Badger's great housebut it was my own little
homeand I was fond of itand I went away and forgot all about itand
then I smelt it suddenlyon the road； when I called and you wouldn't
listen； Ratand everything came back to me with a rushand I WANTED
it！O dear； O dear！and when you WOULDN'T turn back； Rattyand I
had to leave it； though I was smelling it all the timeI thought my heart
would break。We might have just gone and had one look at it； Rattyonly
one lookit was close bybut you wouldn't turn back； Ratty； you wouldn't
turn back！ O dear； O dear！'
Recollection brought fresh waves of sorrow； and sobs again took full
charge of him； preventing further speech。
The Rat stared straight in front of him； saying nothing； only patting
Mole gently on the shoulder。 After a time he muttered gloomily； ‘I see it
all now！ What a PIG I have been！ A pig that's me！ Just a piga plain
52
… Page 53…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
pig！'
He waited till Mole's sobs became gradually less stormy and more
rhythmical； he waited till at last sniffs were frequent and sobs only
intermittent。 Then he rose from his seat； and； remarking carelessly； ‘Well；
now we'd really better be getting on； old chap！' set off up the road again；
over the toilsome way they had come。
‘Wherever are you （hic） going to （hic）； Ratty？' cried the tearful Mole；
looking up in alarm。
‘We're going to find that home of yours； old fellow；' replied the Rat
pleasantly； ‘so you had better come along； for it will take some finding；
and we shall want your nose。'
‘Oh； come back； Ratty； do！' cried the Mole； getting up and hurrying
after him。 ‘It's no good； I tell you！ It's too late； and too dark； and the place
is too far off； and the snow's coming！ Andand I never meant to let you
know I was feeling that way about itit was all an accident and a mistake！
And think of River Bank； and your supper！'
‘Hang River Bank； and supper too！' said the Rat heartily。 ‘I tell you；
I'm going to find this place now； if I stay out all night。 So cheer up； old
chap； and take my arm； and we'll very soon be back there again。'
Still snuffling； pleading； and reluctant； Mole suffered himself to be
dragged back along the road by his imperious companion； who by a flow
of cheerful talk and anecdote endeavoured to beguile his spirits back and
make the weary way seem shorter。 When at last it seemed to the Rat that
they must be nearing that part of the road where the Mole had been ‘held
up；' he said； ‘Now； no more talking。 Business！ Use your nose； and give
your mind to it。'
They moved on in silence for some little way； when suddenly the Rat
was conscious； through his arm that was linked in Mole's； of a faint sort of
electric thrill that was passing down that animal's body。 Instantly he
disengaged himself； fell back a pace； and waited； all attention。
The signals were coming through！
Mole stood a moment rigid； while his uplifted nose； quivering slightly；
felt the air。
Then a short； quick run forwarda faulta checka try back； and then
53
… Page 54…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
a slow； steady； confident advance。
The Rat； much excited； kept close to his heels as the Mole； with
something of the air of a sleep…walker； crossed a dry ditch； scrambled
through a hedge； and nosed his way over a field open and trackless and
bare in the faint starlight。
Suddenly； without giving warning； he dived； but the Rat was on the
alert； and promptly followed him down the tunnel to which his unerring
nose had faithfully led him。
It was close and airless； and the earthy smell was strong； and it seemed
a long time to Rat ere the passage ended and he could stand erect and
stretch and shake himself。 The Mole struck a match； and by its light the
Rat saw that they were standing in an open space； neatly swept and sanded
underfoot； and directly facing them was Mole's little front door； with
‘Mole End' painted； in Gothic lettering； over the bell…pull at the side。
Mole reached down a lantern from a nail on the wail and lit it； and the
Rat； looking round him； saw that they were in a sort of fore…court。 A
garden…seat stood on one side of the door； and on the other a roller； for the
Mole； who was a tidy animal when at home； could not stand having his
ground kicked up by other animals into little runs that ended in earth…
heaps。 On the walls hung wire baskets with ferns in them； alternating with
brackets carrying plaster statuaryGaribaldi； and the infant Samuel； and
Queen Victoria； and other heroes of modern Italy。 Down on one side of the
forecourt ran a skittle…alley； with benches along it and little wooden tables
m