Edgar. "Try if you can push the chair to
the stable-door! I should so much like to see them all running about!"

Harry managed to do as Edgar wished, although it gave him a good deal of
trouble; but he did not mind that a bit.

"Oh, Master Edgar! Did you ever see such a beauty as that young doe? Do
look at her!" said Harry, eagerly, opening the stable-door, and making a
dive after the lop-eared tortoise-shell.

The two boys played with the rabbits for a good half-hour. How much they
found to say about them, any boy who is fond of animals can imagine.
Poor Edgar had not been out for some weeks, and all that time Harry
Pearson had not seen those rabbits. Harry was very happy, but still he
could not help saying to himself now and then, as he looked at his
favourite--

"I wonder who is going to have her?"

"You seem very fond of that tortoise-shell young one, Harry!" said Edgar
presently with a smile.

"Ee--yes!" said Harry, his eyes brightening as he looked down tenderly
at her.

"But how could you keep her?" asked Edgar.

"Oh, I'd keep her fast enough!" cried Harry, turning quite scarlet,
while his heart gave half a dozen tremendous thumps. "I'd keep her! Why
I'd make the neatest little hutch that ever was. And I'd give her the
best of oats and pollard. Ah, as much as ever she'd eat!"

"Well, then, I shall give her to you," said Edgar. "I made up my mind
when I was ill I'd give her to you, for I was sure you would take care
of her. That's why I wouldn't let that other boy have her. He is rich,
and can buy prize rabbits if he wants them. I'd rather give her to you."

Harry Pearson could not speak a word for a minute or two. He could only
look down on the beautiful gift. To think that such a rabbit was his own
was too much for him at first.

"Oh!" he gasped, presently. "Oh! Master Edgar. Oh! Thank you! Thank
you!"

"Put her in that basket, and take her home," said Edgar.

Harry lost no time in obeying this delightful command. After which he
wheeled Edgar, who was getting tired, back to the house, and then ran
home with his rabbit, the proudest and happiest boy in Tolhurst.

All that evening there was an eager crowd of youngsters in front of the
cottage where Harry lived.

It was a long while since there had been such an excitement in the
village.

Nor did the boys' interest in that rabbit die out; boys were always
dropping in to see how she was getting on; and Mr. Blades, the butcher,
who was a great fa