按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
up with ANYTHING； and they want such a lot of doing up； too； before
they're fit to move into。 Of course； we're early； we know that； but we're
only just making a start。'
‘O； bother STARTS；' said the Rat。 ‘It's a splendid day。 Come for a row；
or a stroll along the hedges； or a picnic in the woods； or something。'
‘Well； I THINK not TO…DAY； thank you；' replied the field… mouse
hurriedly。 ‘Perhaps some OTHER daywhen we've more TIME'
The Rat； with a snort of contempt； swung round to go； tripped over a
hat…box； and fell； with undignified remarks。
‘If people would be more careful；' said a field…mouse rather stiffly；
‘and look where they're going； people wouldn't hurt themselvesand
forget themselves。 Mind that hold…all； Rat！ You'd better sit down
somewhere。 In an hour or two we may be more free to attend to you。'
‘You won't be 〃free〃 as you call it much this side of Christmas； I can
see that；' retorted the Rat grumpily； as he picked his way out of the field。
He returned somewhat despondently to his river againhis faithful；
steady…going old river； which never packed up； flitted； or went into winter
quarters。
In the osiers which fringed the bank he spied a swallow sitting。
Presently it was joined by another； and then by a third； and the birds；
fidgeting restlessly on their bough； talked together earnestly and low。
‘What； ALREADY；' said the Rat； strolling up to them。 ‘What's the
hurry？ I call it simply ridiculous。'
‘O； we're not off yet； if that's what you mean；' replied the first swallow。
‘We're only making plans and arranging things。 Talking it over； you know…
…what route we're taking this year； and where we'll stop； and so on。 That's
half the fun！'
‘Fun？' said the Rat； ‘now that's just what I don't understand。 If you've
GOT to leave this pleasant place； and your friends who will miss you； and
your snug homes that you've just settled into； why； when the hour strikes
I've no doubt you'll go bravely； and face all the trouble and discomfort and
change and newness； and make believe that you're not very unhappy。 But
to want to talk about it； or even think about it； till you really need'
‘No； you don't understand； naturally；' said the second swallow。 ‘First；
97
… Page 98…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
we feel it stirring within us； a sweet unrest； then back come the
recollections one by one； like homing pigeons。 They flutter through our
dreams at night； they fly with us in our wheelings and circlings by day。 We
hunger to inquire of each other； to compare notes and assure ourselves that
it was all really true； as one by one the scents and sounds and names of
long…forgotten places come gradually back and beckon to us。'
‘Couldn't you stop on for just this year？' suggested the Water Rat；
wistfully。 ‘We'll all do our best to make you feel at home。 You've no idea
what good times we have here； while you are far away。'
‘I tried 〃stopping on〃 one year；' said the third swallow。 ‘I had grown so
fond of the place that when the time came I hung back and let the others
go on without me。 For a few weeks it was all well enough； but afterwards；
O the weary length of the nights！ The shivering； sunless days！ The air so
clammy and chill； and not an insect in an acre of it！ No； it was no good；
my courage broke down； and one cold； stormy night I took wing； flying
well inland on account of the strong easterly gales。 It was snowing hard as
I beat through the passes of the great mountains； and I had a stiff fight to
win through； but never shall I forget the blissful feeling of the hot sun
again on my back as I sped down to the lakes that lay so blue and placid
below me； and the taste of my first fat insect！ The past was like a bad
dream； the future was all happy holiday as I moved southwards week by
week； easily； lazily； lingering as long as I dared； but always heeding the
call！ No； I had had my warning； never again did I think of disobedience。'
‘Ah； yes； the call of the South； of the South！' twittered the other two
dreamily。 ‘Its songs its hues； its radiant air！ O； do you remember' and；
forgetting the Rat； they slid into passionate reminiscence； while he listened
fascinated； and his heart burned within him。 In himself； too； he knew that
it was vibrating at last； that chord hitherto dormant and unsuspected。 The
mere chatter of these southern…bound birds； their pale and second…hand
reports； had yet power to awaken this wild new sensation and thrill him
through and through with it； what would one moment of the real thing
work in himone passionate touch of the real southern sun； one waft of
the authentic odor？ With closed eyes he dared to dream a moment in full
abandonment； and when he looked again the river seemed steely and chill；
98
… Page 99…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
the green fields grey and lightless。 Then his loyal heart seemed to cry out
on his weaker self for its treachery。
‘Why do you ever come back； then； at all？' he demanded of the
swallows jealously。 ‘What do you find to attract you in this poor drab little
country？'
‘And do you think；' said the first swallow； ‘that the other call is not for
us too； in its due season？ The call of lush meadow… grass； wet orchards；
warm； insect…haunted ponds； of browsing cattle； of haymaking； and all the
farm…buildings clustering round the House of the perfect Eaves？'
‘Do you suppose；' asked the second one； that you are the only living
thing that craves with a hungry longing to hear the cuckoo's note again？'
‘In due time；' said the third； ‘we shall be home…sick once more for
quiet water…lilies swaying on the surface of an English stream。 But to…day
all that seems pale and thin and very far away。 Just now our blood dances
to other music。'
They fell a…twittering among themselves once more； and this time their
intoxicating babble was of violet seas； tawny sands； and lizard…haunted
walls。
Restlessly the Rat wandered off once more； climbed the slope that rose
gently from the north bank of the river； and lay looking out towards the
great ring of Downs that barred his vision further southwardshis simple
horizon hitherto； his Mountains of the Moon； his limit behind which lay
nothing he had cared to see or to know。 To…day； to him gazin