The Wild Wood

           THEMolehadlongwantedtomaketheacquaintanceoftheBadger.Heseemed,byallaccounts,tobesuchanimportantpersonageand,thoughrarelyvisible,tomakehisunseeninfluencefeltbyeverybodyabouttheplace.ButwhenevertheMolementionedhiswishtotheWaterRat,healwaysfoundhimselfputoff."It’sallright,"theRatwouldsay."Badger’llturnupsomedayorother—he’salwaysturningup—andthenI’llintroduceyou.Thebestoffellows!Butyoumustnotonlytakehimasyoufindhim,butwhenyoufindhim."

           "Couldn’tyouaskhimhere—dinnerorsomething?"saidtheMole.

           "Hewouldn’tcome,"repliedtheRatsimply."BadgerhatesSociety,andinvitations,anddinner,andallthatsortofthing."

           "Well,then,supposingwegoandcallonhim?"suggestedtheMole.

           "O,I’msurehewouldn’tlikethatatall,"saidtheRat,quitealarmed."He’ssoveryshy,he’dbesuretobeoffended.I’veneverevenventuredtocallonhimathisownhomemyself,thoughIknowhimsowell.Besides,wecan’t.It’squiteoutofthequestion,becausehelivesintheverymiddleoftheWildWood."

           "Well,supposinghedoes,"saidtheMole."YoutoldmetheWildWoodwasallright,youknow."

           "O,Iknow,Iknow,soitis,"repliedtheRatevasively."ButIthinkwewon’tgotherejustnow.Notjustyet.