The river bank (13)

The river bank (13)

When they got home, the Rat made a bright fire in the parlour and planted the Molein an arm-chair in front of it.

Then he 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 bottles, and about adventures down drains, and night-fishing with Otter, or excursions far a-field with Badger.



Supper was a most cheerful meal.
As the Mole sat in front of the roaring fire, with a mug of warm milky tea in his hand, he felt completely at home.



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-friend the river was lapping the sill of his wondow.

This day was only the first of many similar ones for the 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.

At intervals, the wind went whispering constantly among them.

(13/20)
実は、あと7回残っているのですが、
原作の the river bank の章は、ここで終わりです。
しかし、仲間の主役級のToad の出演場面が少ないので、
The wind in the willow の中から、Toad も含めて出てきます
新章を、20日から、続けてお送りしたいと思います。