Dulce Domum

           THEsheepranhuddlingtogetheragainstthehurdles,blowingoutthinnostrilsandstampingwithdelicatefore-feet,theirheadsthrownbackandalightsteamrisingfromthecrowdedsheep-penintothefrostyair,asthetwoanimalshastenedbyinhighspirits,withmuchchatterandlaughter.Theywerereturningacrosscountryafteralongday’soutingwithOtter,huntingandexploringonthewideuplands,wherecertainstreamstributarytotheirownRiverhadtheirfirstsmallbeginnings;andtheshadesoftheshortwinterdaywereclosinginonthem,andtheyhadstillsomedistancetogo.Ploddingatrandomacrosstheplough,theyhadheardthesheepandhadmadeforthem;andnow,leadingfromthesheep-pen,theyfoundabeatentrackthatmadewalkingalighterbusiness,andresponded,moreover,tothatsmallinquiringsomethingwhichallanimalscarryinsidethem,sayingunmistakably,"Yes,quiteright;thisleadshome!"

           "Itlooksasifwewerecomingtoavillage,"saidtheMolesomewhatdubiously,slackeninghispace,asthetrack,thathadintimebecomeapathandthenhaddevelopedintoalane,nowhandedthemovertothechargeofawell-metalledroad.Theanimalsdidnotholdwithvillages,andtheirownhighways,thicklyfrequentedastheywere,tookanindependentcourse,regardlessofchurch,post-office,orpublic-house.

           "Oh,nevermind!"saidtheRat."Atthisseasonoftheyearthey’reallsafeindoorsbythistime,sittingroundthefire;men,women,andchildren,dogsandcatsandall.