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to each other about his bedraggled appearance。
When they got home； the Rat made a bright fire in the parlour； and
planted the Mole in an arm…chair in front of it； having fetched down a
dressing…gown and slippers for him； and told him river stories till supper…
time。 Very thrilling stories they were； too； to an earth…dwelling animal like
Mole。 Stories about weirs； and sudden floods； and leaping pike； and
steamers that flung hard bottlesat least bottles were certainly flung； and
FROM steamers； so presumably BY them； and about herons； and how
particular they were whom they spoke to； and about adventures down
drains； and night…fishings with Otter； or excursions far a… field with Badger。
Supper was a most cheerful meal； but very shortly afterwards a terribly
sleepy Mole had to be escorted upstairs by his considerate host； to the best
bedroom； where he soon laid his head on his pillow in great peace and
contentment； knowing that his new…found friend the River was lapping the
sill of his window。
This day was only the first of many similar ones for the emancipated
Mole； each of them longer and full of interest as the ripening summer
moved onward。 He learnt to swim and to row； and entered into the joy of
running water； and with his ear to the reed…stems he caught； at intervals；
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something of what the wind went whispering so constantly among them。
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CHAPTER II
THE OPEN ROAD
‘Ratty；' said the Mole suddenly； one bright summer morning； ‘if you
please； I want to ask you a favour。'
The Rat was sitting on the river bank； singing a little song。 He had just
composed it himself； so he was very taken up with it； and would not pay
proper attention to Mole or anything else。 Since early morning he had
been swimming in the river； in company with his friends the ducks。 And
when the ducks stood on their heads suddenly； as ducks will； he would
dive down and tickle their necks； just under where their chins would be if
ducks had chins； till they were forced to come to the surface again in a
hurry； spluttering and angry and shaking their feathers at him； for it is
impossible to say quite ALL you feel when your head is under water。 At
last they implored him to go away and attend to his own affairs and leave
them to mind theirs。 So the Rat went away； and sat on the river bank in the
sun； and made up a song about them； which he called
‘DUCKS' DITTY。' All along the backwater； Through the rushes tall；
Ducks are a…dabbling； Up tails all！
Ducks' tails； drakes' tails； Yellow feet a…quiver； Yellow bills all out of
sight Busy in the river！
Slushy green undergrowth Where the roach swim Here we keep our
larder； Cool and full and dim。
Everyone for what he likes！ WE like to be Heads down； tails up；
Dabbling free！
High in the blue above Swifts whirl and call WE are down a…
dabbling Up tails all！
‘I don't know that I think so VERY much of that little song； Rat；'
observed the Mole cautiously。 He was no poet himself and didn't care who
knew it； and he had a candid nature。
‘Nor don't the ducks neither；' replied the Rat cheerfully。 ‘They say；
〃WHY can't fellows be allowed to do what they like WHEN they like and
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AS they like； instead of other fellows sitting on banks and watching them
all the time and making remarks and poetry and things about them？ What
NONSENSE it all is！〃 That's what the ducks say。'
‘So it is； so it is；' said the Mole； with great heartiness。
‘No； it isn't！' cried the Rat indignantly。
‘Well then； it isn't； it isn't；' replied the Mole soothingly。 ‘But what I
wanted to ask you was； won't you take me to call on Mr。 Toad？ I've heard
so much about him； and I do so want to make his acquaintance。'
‘Why； certainly；' said the good…natured Rat； jumping to his feet and
dismissing poetry from his mind for the day。 ‘Get the boat out； and we'll
paddle up there at once。 It's never the wrong time to call on Toad。 Early or
late he's always the same fellow。 Always good…tempered； always glad to
see you； always sorry when you go！'
‘He must be a very nice animal；' observed the Mole； as he got into the
boat and took the sculls； while the Rat settled himself comfortably in the
stern。
‘He is indeed the best of animals；' replied Rat。 ‘So simple； so good…
natured； and so affectionate。 Perhaps he's not very cleverwe can't all be
geniuses； and it may be that he is both boastful and conceited。 But he has
got some great qualities； has Toady。'
Rounding a bend in the river； they came in sight of a handsome；
dignified old house of mellowed red brick； with well…kept lawns reaching
down to the water's edge。
‘There's Toad Hall；' said the Rat； ‘and that creek on the left； where the
notice…board says； 〃Private。 No landing allowed；〃 leads to his boat…house；
where we'll leave the boat。 The stables are over there to the right。 That's
the banqueting…hall you're looking at nowvery old； that is。 Toad is rather
rich； you know； and this is really one of the nicest houses in these parts；
though we never admit as much to Toad。'
They glided up the creek； and the Mole slipped his sculls as they
passed into the shadow of a large boat…house。 Here they saw many
handsome boats； slung from the cross beams or hauled up on a slip； but
none in the water； and the place had an unused and a deserted air。
The Rat looked around him。 ‘I understand；' said he。 ‘Boating is played
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out。 He's tired of it； and done with it。 I wonder what new fad he has taken
up now？ Come along and let's look him up。 We shall hear all about it quite
soon enough。'
They disembarked； and strolled across the gay flower…decked lawns in
search of Toad； whom they presently happened upon resting in a wicker
garden…chair； with a pre…occupied expression of face； and a large map
spread out on his knees。
‘Hooray！' he cried； jumping up on seeing them； ‘this is splendid！' He
shook the paws of both of them warmly； never waiting for an introduction
to the Mole。 ‘How KIND of you！' he went on； dancing round them。 ‘I was
just going to send a boat down the river for you； Ratty； with strict orders
that you were to be fetched up here at once； whatever you were doing。 I
want you badlyboth of you。 Now what will you take？ Come inside and
have something！ You don't know how lucky it is； your turning up just
now！'
‘Let's sit quiet a bit； Toady！' said the Rat； throwing himself into an
easy chair； while the Mole took another by the side of him and made some
civil remark about Toad's ‘delightful residence。'
‘Finest house on the whole river；' cried Toad boisterously。 ‘Or
anywhere else； for that matter；' he could not help adding。
Here the Rat nudged the Mole。 Unfortunately the Toad saw him do it；
and turned very red。 There was a moment's painful silence。 Then Toad
burst out laughing。 ‘All right； Ratty；' he said。 ‘It's only my way； you know。
And it's not such a very bad house； is it？ You know you rather like it
yourself。 Now； look here。 Let's be sensible。 You are the very animals I
wanted。 You've got to help me。 It's most important！'
‘It's about your rowing； I suppose；' said the Rat； with an innocent air。
‘You're getting on fairly well； though you splash a good bit still。 With a
great deal of patience； and any quantity of coaching； you may'
‘O； pooh！ boating！' interrupted the Toad； in great disgust。 Silly boyish
amusement。 I've given that up LONG ago。 Sheer waste of time； that's what
it is。 It makes me downright sorry to see you fellows； who ought to know
better； spending all your energies in that aimless manne