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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
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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
marked with rings that hinted at beer… mugs。 In the middle was a small
round pond containing gold…fish and surrounded by a cockle…shell border。
Out of the centre of the pond rose a fanciful erection clothed in more
cockle…shells and topped by a large silvered glass ball that reflected
everything all wrong and had a very pleasing effect。
Mole's face…beamed at the sight of all these objects so dear to him； and
he hurried Rat through the door； lit a lamp in the hall； and took one glance
round his old home。 He saw the dust lying thick on everything； saw the
cheerless； deserted look of the long…neglected house； and its narrow；
meagre dimensions； its worn and shabby contentsand collapsed again on
a hall…chair； his nose to his paws。 ‘O Ratty！' he cried dismally； ‘why ever
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did I do it？ Why did I bring you to this poor； cold little place； on a night
like this； when you might have been at River Bank by this time； toasting
your toes before a blazing fire； with all your own nice things about you！'
The Rat paid no heed to his doleful self…reproaches。 He was running
here and there； opening doors； inspecting rooms and cupboards； and
lighting lamps and candles and sticking them； up everywhere。 ‘What a
capital little house this is！' he called out cheerily。 ‘So compact！ So well
planned！ Everything here and everything in its place！ We'll make a jolly
night of it。 The first thing we want is a good fire； I'll see to thatI always
know where to find things。 So this is the parlour？ Splendid！ Your own idea；
those little sleeping…bunks in the wall？ Capital！ Now； I'll fetch the wood
and the coals； and you get a duster； Moleyou'll find one in the drawer of
the kitchen tableand try and smarten things up a bit。 Bustle about； old
chap！'
Encouraged by his inspiriting companion； the Mole roused himself and
dusted and polished with energy and heartiness； while the Rat； running to
and fro with armfuls of fuel； soon had a cheerful blaze roaring up the
chimney。 He hailed the Mole to come and warm himself； but Mole
promptly had another fit of the blues； dropping down on a couch in dark
despair and burying his face in his duster。 ‘Rat；' he moaned； ‘how about
your supper； you poor； cold； hungry； weary animal？ I've nothing to give
younothing not a crumb！'
‘What a fellow you are for giving in！' said the Rat reproachfully。 ‘Why；
only just now I saw a sardine…opener on the kitchen dresser； quite
distinctly； and everybody knows that means there are sardines about
somewhere in the neighbourhood。 Rouse yourself！ pull yourself together；
and come with me and forage。'
They went and foraged accordingly； hunting through every cupboard
and turning out every drawer。 The result was not so very depressing after
all； though of course it might have been better； a tin of sardinesa box of
captain's biscuits； nearly fulland a German sausage encased in silver
paper。
‘There's a banquet for you！' observed the Rat； as he arranged the table。
‘I know some animals who would give their ears to be sitting down to
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supper with us to…night！'
‘No bread！' groaned the Mole dolorously； ‘no butter； no'
‘No pate de foie gras； no champagne！' continued the Rat； grinning。
‘And that reminds mewhat's that little door at the end of the passage？
Your cellar； of course！ Every luxury in this house！ Just you wait a minute。'
He made for the cellar…door； and presently reappeared； somewhat
dusty； with a bottle of beer in each paw and another under each arm； ‘Self…
indulgent beggar you seem to be； Mole；' he observed。 ‘Deny yourself
nothing。 This is really the jolliest little place I ever was in。 Now； wherever
did you pick up those prints？ Make the place look so home…like； they do。
No wonder you're so fond of it； Mole。 Tell us all about it； and how you
came to make it what it is。'
Then； while the Rat busied himself fetching plates； and knives and
forks； and mustard which he mixed in an egg…cup； the Mole； his bosom
still heaving with the stress of his recent emotion； relatedsomewhat shyly
at first； but with more freedom as he warmed to his subjecthow this was
planne