Introduction
The Mole has emerged from his winter burrow one fine morning at the beginning of Spring. After scampering off carelessly, leaving spring-cleaning far behind, he finds himself for the first time in his life at the River. Mole’s expert eye falls on a small round opening near the water’s edge, and he is just thinking that it would make a nice burrow when he realises that there is a small, round face framed in it.
A BROWN little face, with whiskers.
A grave round face, with the same twinkle in its eye that had first attracted his notice. Small neat ears and thick silky hair.
It was the Water Rat!
Then the two animals stood and regarded each other cautiously.
‘Hullo, Mole!’ said the Water Rat.
‘Hullo, Rat!’ said the Mole.
‘Would you like to come over?’ enquired the Rat presently.
‘Oh, its all very well to talk,’ said the Mole, rather pettishly, he being new to a river and riverside life and its ways.
The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat which the Mole had not observed. It was painted blue outside and white within, and was just the size for two animals: and the Mole’s whole heart went out to it at once, even though he did not yet fully understand its uses.
The Rat sculled smartly across and made fast.*
* ‘Scull’ (contrast ‘skull’) is another word for an oar; the verb means ‘propel a boat by oars’ i.e. row (rhymes with go). It is more commonly used of a lone rower than of a crew. ‘Smartly’ here means ‘quickly and efficiently’. ‘Make fast’ means ‘tie (a boat) up securely’, where ‘fast’ means ‘tight’.
Précis
Early in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, the Mole spots a Water Rat peeping out of the far bank of the river. The Rat cordially invites Mole for a row on the water, to the Mole’s mingled yearning and consternation; but without a word the Rat at once draws up a little boat and brings it alongside. (59 / 60 words)
Early in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, the Mole spots a Water Rat peeping out of the far bank of the river. The Rat cordially invites Mole for a row on the water, to the Mole’s mingled yearning and consternation; but without a word the Rat at once draws up a little boat and brings it alongside.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, if, just, may, otherwise, until, whereas.