"There's great news in the Old
Briar-patch, and I'm the only one that knows it, but I've promised not
to tell."
Jimmy pricked up his ears. "News in the Old Briar-patch must have
something to do with Peter Rabbit," said he. "What has Peter done now?"
"I'll never tell! I'll never tell!" cried Jenny Wren, growing so excited
that it seemed to Jimmy as if there was danger that she would turn
herself inside out. "I promised not to and I never will!" Then, for fear
that she would in spite of herself, she flew on her way home.
Jimmy watched her out of sight with a puzzled frown. "If I didn't know
that she gets so terribly excited over nothing, I'd think that there
really is some news in the Old Briar-patch," he muttered to himself.
"Anyway, I haven't anything better to do, so I believe I'll drop around
that way and make Peter Rabbit a call."
He found Peter in some sweet clover just outside the Old Briar-patch,
and it struck Jimmy that Peter looked uncommonly happy. He said as much.
"I am," replied Peter, before he thought. Then he added hastily, "You
see, I've been uncommonly happy ever since I returned with Mrs. Peter
from the Old Pasture."
"But I hear there's great news over here in the Old Briar-patch,"
persisted Jimmy Skunk. "What is it, Peter?"
Peter pretended to be very much surprised. "Great news!" he repeated.
"Great news! Why, what news can there be over here? Who told you that?"
"A little bird told me," replied Jimmy slyly.
"It must have been Jenny Wren!" said Peter, once more speaking before he
thought.
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