It was very
rude indeed. It is always rude to stare at any one. So it was no wonder
that after a minute the two soft, gentle eyes disappeared behind one of
the great green leaves of the fern. Peter gave a great sigh. Then he
remembered how rude he had been to stare so.
"I--I beg your pardon," said Peter in his politest manner, which is very
polite indeed, for Peter can be very polite when he wants to be. "I beg
your pardon. I didn't mean to frighten you. Please forgive me."
With the greatest eagerness Peter waited for a reply. You know it was
because he had been so lonesome that he had left his home in the dear
Old Briar-patch on the Green Meadows. And since he had been in the Old
Pasture he had been almost as lonesome, for he had had no one to talk
to. So now he waited eagerly for a reply. You see, he felt sure that the
owner of such soft, gentle eyes must have a soft, gentle voice and a
soft, gentle heart, and there was nothing in the world that Peter needed
just then so much as sympathy. But though he waited and waited, there
wasn't a sound from the big fern.
"Perhaps you don't know who I am. I'm Peter Rabbit, and I've come up
here from the Green Meadows, and I'd like very much to be your friend,"
continued Peter after a while. Still there was no sound. Peter peeped
from the corner of one eye at the place where he had seen the two soft,
gentle eyes, but there was nothing to be seen but the gently waving leaf
of the big fern. Peter didn't know just what to do.
Pages:
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38