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‘Rat！' he cried in penitence； ‘you're a wonder！ A real wonder； that's what
you are。 I see it all now！ You argued it out； step by step； in that wise head
of yours； from the very moment that I fell and cut my shin； and you looked
at the cut； and at once your majestic mind said to itself； 〃Door…scraper！〃
And then you turned to and found the very door…scraper that done it！ Did
you stop there？ No。 Some people would have been quite satisfied； but not
you。 Your intellect went on working。 〃Let me only just find a door…mat；〃
says you to yourself； 〃and my theory is proved！〃 And of course you found
your door…mat。 You're so clever； I believe you could find anything you
liked。 〃Now；〃 says you； 〃that door exists； as plain as if I saw it。 There's
nothing else remains to be done but to find it！〃 Well； I've read about that
sort of thing in books； but I've never come across it before in real life。 You
ought to go where you'll be properly appreciated。 You're simply wasted
here； among us fellows。 If I only had your head； Ratty'
‘But as you haven't；' interrupted the Rat； rather unkindly； ‘I suppose
you're going to sit on the snow all night and TALK Get up at once and
hang on to that bell…pull you see there； and ring hard； as hard as you can；
while I hammer！'
While the Rat attacked the door with his stick； the Mole sprang up at
the bell…pull； clutched it and swung there； both feet well off the ground；
and from quite a long way off they could faintly hear a deep…toned bell
respond。
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CHAPTER IV
MR。 BADGER
THEY waited patiently for what seemed a very long time； stamping in
the snow to keep their feet warm。 At last they heard the sound of slow
shuflling footsteps approaching the door from the inside。 It seemed； as the
Mole remarked to the Rat； like some one walking in carpet slippers that
were too large for him and down at heel； which was intelligent of Mole；
because that was exactly what it was。
There was the noise of a bolt shot back； and the door opened a few
inches； enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes。
‘Now； the VERY next time this happens；' said a gruff and suspicious
voice； ‘I shall be exceedingly angry。 Who is it THIS time； disturbing
people on such a night？ Speak up！'
‘Oh； Badger；' cried the Rat； ‘let us in； please。 It's me； Rat； and my
friend Mole； and we've lost our way in the snow。'
‘What； Ratty； my dear little man！' exclaimed the Badger； in quite a
different voice。 ‘Come along in； both of you； at once。 Why； you must be
perished。 Well I never！ Lost in the snow！ And in the Wild Wood； too； and
at this time of night！ But come in with you。'
The two animals tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get
inside； and heard the door shut behind them with great joy and relief。
The Badger； who wore a long dressing…gown； and whose slippers were
indeed very down at heel； carried a flat candlestick in his paw and had
probably been on his way to bed when their summons sounded。 He looked
kindly down on them and patted both their heads。 ‘This is not the sort of
night for small animals to be out；' he said paternally。 ‘I'm afraid you've
been up to some of your pranks again； Ratty。 But come along； come into
the kitchen。 There's a first…rate fire there； and supper and everything。'
He shuffled on in front of them； carrying the light； and they followed
him； nudging each other in an anticipating sort of way； down a long；
gloomy； and； to tell the truth； decidedly shabby passage； into a sort of a
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
central hall； out of which they could dimly see other long tunnel…like
passages branching； passages mysterious and without apparent end。 But
there were doors in the hall as wellstout oaken comfortable…looking
doors。 One of these the Badger flung open； and at once they found
themselves in all the glow and warmth of a large fire…lit kitchen。
The floor was well…worn red brick； and on the wide hearth burnt a fire
of logs； between two attractive chimney…corners tucked away in the wall；
well out of any suspicion of draught。 A couple of high…backed settles；
facing each other on either side of the fire； gave further sitting
accommodations for the sociably disposed。 In the middle of the room
stood a long table of plain boards placed on trestles； with benches down
each side。 At one end of it； where an arm…chair stood pushed back； were
spread the remains of the Badger's plain but ample supper。 Rows of
spotless plates winked from the shelves of the dresser at the far end of the
room； and from the rafters overhead hung hams； bundles of dried herbs；
nets of onions； and baskets of eggs。 It seemed a place where heroes could
fitly feast after victory； where weary harvesters could line up in scores
along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song； or
where two or three friends of simple tastes could sit about as they pleased
and eat and smoke and talk in comfort and contentment。 The ruddy brick
floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling； the oaken settles； shiny with long
wear； exchanged cheerful glances with each other； plates on the dresser
grinned at pots on the shelf； and the merry firelight flickered and played
over everything without distinction。
The kindly Badger thrust them down on a settle to toast themselves at
the fire； and bade them remove their wet coats and boots。 Then he fetched
them dressing…gowns and slippers； and himself bathed the Mole's shin
with warm water and mended the cut with sticking…plaster till the whole
thing was just as good as new； if not better。 In the embracing light and
warmth； warm and dry at last； with weary legs propped up in front of them；
and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind； it
seemed to the storm…driven animals； now in safe anchorage； that the cold
and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away； and
all that they had suffered in it a half… forgotten dream。