[narrate warmly and unhurriedly, with quiet wonder] He thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before—this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again.

[narrate softly, with a hint of suspense] Then the two animals stood and regarded each other cautiously.

[call out cheerfully across the water] Hullo, Mole!

said the Water Rat.

[say shyly and a little uncertainly] Hullo, Rat!

said the Mole.

[say kindly, with an inviting warmth] Would you like to come over?

enquired the Rat presently.

[say breathlessly, bursting with delight] This has been a wonderful day!

said he, as the Rat shoved off and took to the sculls again.

[confide in an awed, happy voice] [breathe] Do you know, I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life.

[say in open-mouthed astonishment] What?

cried the Rat, open-mouthed:

[splutter in disbelief, tripping over the words] Never been in a—you never—well I—what have you been doing, then?

[say earnestly and warmly, as if sharing a great secret] Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. [say dreamily, drifting off] Simply messing,

he went on dreamily:

[say slowly and dreamily, trailing away] messing—about—in—boats; messing——

[shout in sudden alarm] Look ahead, Rat!

cried the Mole suddenly.

[narrate briskly, with comic timing] It was too late. The boat struck the bank full tilt. [narrate with warm amusement] The dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his heels in the air.