'The afternoon sun was getting low as Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry-things to himself' (Mole is in the boat with him)

'They (Rat and Mole) strolled across through the flower decked lawns in search of Toad, whom they presently happened upon resting in a wicker garden chair with a preoccupied expression on his face and a large map in front of him'

'Twigs crackled under Mole's feet, logs tripped him, fungus on stumps resembled caricatures and startled him for the moment by their likeness to something familiar and far away. Trees crouched nearer and nearer, and holes made ugly mouths'

'Otter was coming through the snow as the red sun was rising and showing against the tree trunks. Snow slid off the branches, snow castles and caverns had sprung out of nowhere in the night'

'The Mole subsided forlornly on a tree stump and tried to control himself. The sob he had fought with so long refused to be beaten. Poor Mole at last gave up the struggle, and cried freely and helplessly, now that he knew it was all over and he had lost what he could hardly have said to have found'

'It was still too hot to think of staying indoors, to Mole lay on some cool dock-leaves, and thought over the past day and it's doings, and how very good they had all been'

'Toad, still in disguise of the old washer-woman, stood safe and sound in the hall, streaked with mud and weed to be sure, but happy and high-spirited, now that he found himself once more in the house of a friend'

Wind in the Willows