tried to, at all events." "What, US?" he merely said: "DO
something? us rabbits?" So I cuffed him again and left him.
There was nothing else to be done. At any rate, I had
learntsomething; and if I had had the luck to meet any of "Them" I'd
have
learnt something more--or THEY would.'
`Weren't you at all--er--nervous?' asked the Mole, some of
yesterday's
terror coming back to him at the mention of the Wild
Wood.
`Nervous?' The Otter showed a gleaming set of strong white teeth
as he laughed. `I'd give 'em nerves if any of them tried
anything on with me. Here, Mole, fry me some slices of ham, like
the good little chap you are. I'm
frightfully hungry, and I've
got any
amount to say to Ratty here. Haven't seen him for an
age.'
So the
good-natured Mole, having cut some slices of ham, set the
hedgehogs to fry it, and returned to his own breakfast, while the
Otter and the Rat, their heads together,
eagerly talked river-
shop, which is long shop and talk that is endless,
running on
like the babbling river itself.
A plate of fried ham had just been cleared and sent back for
more, when the Badger entered, yawning and rubbing his eyes, and
greeted them all in his quiet, simple way, with kind enquiries
for every one. `It must be getting on for
luncheon time,' he
remarked to the Otter. `Better stop and have it with us. You
must be hungry, this cold morning.'
`Rather!' replied the Otter, winking at the Mole. `The sight of
these
greedy young
hedgehogs stuffing themselves with fried ham
makes me feel
positively famished.'
The
hedgehogs, who were just
beginning to feel hungry again after
their porridge, and after
working so hard at their frying, looked
timidly up at Mr. Badger, but were too shy to say anything.
`Here, you two youngsters be off home to your mother,' said the
Badger kindly. `I'll send some one with you to show you the way.
You won't want any dinner to-day, I'll be bound.'
He gave them
sixpenceapiece and a pat on the head, and they went
off with much
respectful swinging of caps and
touching of
forelocks.
Presently they all sat down to
luncheon together. The Mole found
himself placed next to Mr. Badger, and, as the other two were
still deep in river-gossip from which nothing could
divert them,
he took the opportunity to tell Badger how comfortable and home-
like it all felt to him. `Once well
underground,' he said, `you
know exactly where you are. Nothing can happen to you, and
nothing can get at you. You're entirely your own master, and you
don't have to
consult anybody or mind what they say. Things go
on all the same
overhead, and you let 'em, and don't
bother about
'em. When you want to, up you go, and there the things are,
waiting for you.'
The Badger simply beamed on him. `That's exactly what I say,' he
replied. `There's no
security, or peace and tranquillity, except
underground. And then, if your ideas get larger and you want to
expand--why, a dig and a
scrape, and there you are! If you feel
your house is a bit too big, you stop up a hole or two, and there
you are again! No builders, no tradesmen, no remarks passed on
you by fellows looking over your wall, and, above all, no
WEATHER. Look at Rat, now. A couple of feet of flood water,
and he's got to move into hired lodgings; uncomfortable,
inconveniently
situated, and
horriblyexpensive. Take Toad. I
say nothing against Toad Hall; quite 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 broken--where's Toad? Supposing the rooms are
draughty--I HATE a
draught myself--where'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 last--that'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
domesticarchitecture 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