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The River Bank
"Thisistoomuch!"
"Doyoureallythinkso?"enquiredtheRatseriously."It’sonlywhatIalwaystakeontheselittleexcursions;andtheotheranimalsarealwaystellingmethatI’mameanbeastandcutitveryfine!"
TheMoleneverheardawordhewassaying.Absorbedinthenewlifehewasenteringupon,intoxicatedwiththesparkle,theripple,thescentsandthesoundsandthesunlight,hetrailedapawinthewateranddreamedlongwakingdreams.TheWaterRat,likethegoodlittlefellowhewas,sculledsteadilyonandforboretodisturbhim.
"Ilikeyourclothesawfully,oldchap,"heremarkedaftersomehalfanhourorsohadpassed."I’mgoingtogetablackvelvetsmoking-suitmyselfsomeday,assoonasIcanaffordit."
"Ibegyourpardon,"saidtheMole,pullinghimselftogetherwithaneffort."Youmustthinkmeveryrude;butallthisissonewtome.So—this—is—a—River!"
"TheRiver,"correctedtheRat.
"Andyoureallylivebytheriver?Whatajollylife!"
"Byitandwithitandonitandinit,"saidtheRat."It’sbrotherandsistertome,andaunts,andcompany,andfoodanddrink,and(naturally)washing.It’smyworld,andIdon’twantanyother.Whatithasn’tgotisnotworthhaving,andwhatitdoesn’tknowisnotworthknowing.
