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orchard…trees crab…apple； wild cherry； and sloe。
‘This is the place of my song…dream； the place the music played to me；'
whispered the Rat； as if in a trance。 ‘Here； in this holy place； here if
anywhere； surely we shall find Him！'
Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him； an awe that
turned his muscles to water； bowed his head； and rooted his feet to the
ground。 It was no panic terrorindeed he felt wonderfully at peace and
happybut it was an awe that smote and held him and； without seeing； he
knew it could only mean that some august Presence was very； very near。
With difficulty he turned to look for his friend。 and saw him at his side
cowed； stricken； and trembling violently。 And still there was utter silence
in the populous bird…haunted branches around them； and still the light
grew and grew。
Perhaps he would never have dared to raise his eyes； but that； though
the piping was now hushed； the call and the summons seemed still
dominant and imperious。 He might not refuse； were Death himself waiting
to strike him instantly； once he had looked with mortal eye on things
rightly kept hidden。 Trembling he obeyed； and raised his humble head； and
then； in that utter clearness of the imminent dawn； while Nature； flushed
with fulness of incredible colour； seemed to hold her breath for the event；
he looked in the very eyes of the Friend and Helper； saw the backward
sweep of the curved horns； gleaming in the growing daylight； saw the
stern； hooked nose between the kindly eyes that were looking down on
them humourously； while the bearded mouth broke into a half…smile at the
corners； saw the rippling muscles on the arm that lay across the broad
chest； the long supple hand still holding the pan…pipes only just fallen
away from the parted lips； saw the splendid curves of the shaggy limbs
disposed in majestic ease on the sward； saw； last of all； nestling between
his very hooves； sleeping soundly in entire peace and contentment； the
little； round； podgy； childish form of the baby otter。 All this he saw； for one
moment breathless and intense； vivid on the morning sky； and still； as he
looked； he lived； and still； as he lived； he wondered。
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‘Rat！' he found breath to whisper； shaking。 ‘Are you afraid？'
‘Afraid？' murmured the Rat； his eyes shining with unutterable love。
‘Afraid！ Of HIM？ O； never； never！ And yetand yet O； Mole； I am
afraid！'
Then the two animals； crouching to the earth； bowed their heads and
did worship。
Sudden and magnificent； the sun's broad golden disc showed itself
over the horizon facing them； and the first rays； shooting across the level
water…meadows； took the animals full in the eyes and dazzled them。 When
they were able to look once more； the Vision had vanished； and the air was
full of the carol of birds that hailed the dawn。
As they stared blankly。 in dumb misery deepening as they slowly
realised all they had seen and all they had lost； a capricious little breeze；
dancing up from the surface of the water； tossed the aspens； shook the
dewy roses and blew lightly and caressingly in their faces； and with its
soft touch came instant oblivion。 For this is the last best gift that the kindly
demi… god is careful to bestow on those to whom he has revealed himself
in their helping： the gift of forgetfulness。 Lest the awful remembrance
should remain and grow； and overshadow mirth and pleasure； and the
great haunting memory should spoil all the after…lives of little animals
helped out of difficulties； in order that they should be happy and
lighthearted as before。
Mole rubbed his eyes and stared at Rat； who was looking about him in
a puzzled sort of way。 ‘I beg your pardon； what did you say； Rat？' he
asked。
‘I think I was only remarking；' said Rat slowly； ‘that this was the right
sort of place； and that here； if anywhere； we should find him。 And look！
Why； there he is； the little fellow！' And with a cry of delight he ran
towards the slumbering Portly。
But Mole stood still a moment； held in thought。 As one wakened
suddenly from a beautiful dream； who struggles to recall it； and can re…
capture nothing but a dim sense of the beauty of it； the beauty！ Till that；
too； fades away in its turn； and the dreamer bitterly accepts the hard； cold
waking and all its penalties； so Mole； after struggling with his memory for
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a brief space； shook his head sadly and followed the Rat。
Portly woke up with a joyous squeak； and wriggled with pleasure at
the sight of his father's friends； who had played with him so often in past
days。 In a moment； however； his face grew blank； and he fell to hunting
round in a circle with pleading whine。 As a child that has fallen happily
asleep in its nurse's arms； and wakes to find itself alone and laid in a
strange place； and searches corners and cupboards； and runs from room to
room； despair growing silently in its heart； even so Portly searched the
island and searched； dogged and unwearying； till at last the black moment
came for giving it up； and sitting down and crying bitterly。
The Mole ran quickly to comfort the little animal； but Rat； lingering；
looked long and doubtfully at certain hoof…marks deep in the sward。
‘Somegreatanimalhas been here；' he murmured slowly and
thoughtfully； and stood musing； musing； his mind strangely stirred。
‘Come along； Rat！' called the Mole。 ‘Think of poor Otter； waiting up
there by the ford！'
Portly had soon been comforted by the promise of a treata jaunt on
the river in Mr。 Rat's real boat； and the two animals conducted him to the
water's side； placed him securely between them in the bottom of the boat；
and paddled off down the backwater。 The sun was fully up by now； and
hot on them； birds sang lustily and without restraint； and flowers smiled
and nodded from either bank； but somehowso thought the animalswith
less of richness and blaze of colour than they seemed to remember s