Little Portly

The Wind in the Willows 45 Little Portly

Mole lay on the riverbank. Rat was away visiting Otter. “ Oh, why didn’t I go with Rat?” said Mole. “ He’s late, and now the sun is setting. ”

At last Mole heard Rat’s footsteps. Rat sat down beside him. ” Why did you stay so long?” asked Mole. “ I had to, ” said Rat. “ Otter is in trouble. ”

“ What is it?” asked Mole. “ Otter’s son, Little Portly, ” said Rat. “ He’s missing again. ”

“ Oh, Portly is always running off, ” said Mole. “ I know, ” said Rat. “ And he always comes back, ” said Mole. “ But Portly has been missing for days, ” said Rat.

Mole listened closely to Rat’s news. “ Otter looked everywhere, ” said Rat. “ He asked every animal. No one saw Little Portly anywhere. ”