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The River Bank
Lord!thetimeswe’vehadtogether!Whetherinwinterorsummer,springorautumn,it’salwaysgotitsfunanditsexcitements.WhenthefloodsareoninFebruary,andmycellarsandbasementarebrimmingwithdrinkthat’snogoodtome,andthebrownwaterrunsbymybestbedroomwindow;oragainwhenitalldropsawayandshowspatchesofmudthatsmellslikeplum-cake,andtherushesandweedclogthechannels,andIcanpotteraboutdryshodovermostofthebedofitandfindfreshfoodtoeat,andthingscarelesspeoplehavedroppedoutofboats!"
"Butisn’titabitdullattimes?"theMoleventuredtoask."Justyouandtheriver,andnooneelsetopassawordwith?"
"Nooneelseto—well,Imustn’tbehardonyou,"saidtheRatwithforbearance."You’renewtoit,andofcourseyoudon’tknow.Thebankissocrowdednowadaysthatmanypeoplearemovingawayaltogether.Ono,itisn’twhatitusedtobe,atall.Otters,king-fishers,dabchicks,moorhens,allofthemaboutalldaylongandalwayswantingyoutodosomething—asifafellowhadnobusinessofhisowntoattendto!"
"Whatliesoverthere?"askedtheMole,wavingapawtowardsabackgroundofwoodlandthatdarklyframedthewater-meadowsononesideoftheriver.
"That?O,that’sjusttheWildWood,"saidtheRatshortly."Wedon’tgothereverymuch,weriver-bankers.
