Besides, any one who has
to keep such a sharp watch for Reddy Fox as you do ought to know why
he wears a red coat. If you'll promise to sit perfectly still and ask
no foolish questions, I'll tell you the story."
Of course Peter promised, and settled himself comfortably to listen.
And this is the story that Grandfather Frog told:
"A long time ago, when the world was young, old Mr. Fox, the
grandfather a thousand times removed of Reddy Fox, was one of the
smartest of all the forest and meadow people, just as Reddy is now. He
was so smart that he knew enough not to appear smart, and the fact is
his neighbors thought him rather dull. He wore just a common, everyday
suit of dull brown, like most of the others, and there wasn't anything
about him to attract attention. He was always very polite, very polite
indeed, to every one. Yes, Sir, Mr. Fox was very polite. He always
seemed to be minding his own business, and he never went around asking
foolish questions or poking his nose into other people's affairs."
Grandfather Frog stopped a minute and looked very hard at Peter after
he said this, and Peter looked uncomfortable.
"Now, although Mr. Fox didn't appear to take any interest in other
people's affairs and never asked questions, he had two of the
sharpest ears among all the little meadow and forest people, and while
he was going about seeming to be just minding his own business, he was
listening and listening to all that was said. Everything he heard he
remembered, so that it wasn't long before he knew more about what was
going on than all his neighbors together.
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