So off they scampered to the Smiling Pool. There they found
Grandfather Frog sitting on his big green lily-pad just as usual, and
Peter knew by the look in his great, goggly eyes that Grandfather Frog
had a good breakfast of foolish green flies tucked away inside his
white and yellow waistcoat. His eyes twinkled as Peter and Johnny very
politely wished him good morning.
"Good morning," said he gruffly.
But Peter had seen that twinkle in his eyes and knew that Grandfather
Frog was feeling good-natured in spite of his gruff greeting.
"If you please, Grandfather Frog, why doesn't Mr. Greensnake wink at
us when we wink at him?" he asked.
"Chug-a-rum! Because he can't," replied Grandfather Frog.
"Can't!" cried Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck together.
"That's what I said--can't," replied Grandfather Frog. "And no more
can Mr. Blacksnake, or Mr. Rattlesnake, or Mr. Gophersnake, or any
other member of the Snake family."
"Why not?" cried Peter and Johnny, all in the same breath.
"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog, folding his hands across his
white and yellow waistcoat, "if you will sit still until I finish,
I'll tell you; but if you move or ask any foolish questions, I'll stop
right where I am, and you'll never hear the end of the story, for no
one else knows it."
Of course Peter and Johnny promised to sit perfectly still and not say
a word. After they had made themselves comfortable, Grandfather Frog
cleared his throat as if to begin, but for a long time he didn't say a
word.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68