t a bit nice. But Peter had just had a narrow escape, a very
narrow escape, for Reddy Fox had sprung out from behind a bush as
Peter came down the Lone Little Path, and had so nearly caught Peter
that he had actually pulled some fur out of Peter's coat. Now Peter
was safe in the dear Old Briar-patch. He was a little out of breath,
because he had had to use his long legs as fast as he knew how, but he
was safe. You see, Reddy Fox wouldn't run the risk of tearing his
handsome red coat on the brambles. Besides, they scratched terribly.

"Never mind, Peter Rabbit, I'll get you yet!" snarled Reddy, as he
gave up and started back for the Green Forest.

"Reddy Fox is very sly!
Reddy Fox is very spry!
But sly and spry, 'tis vain to try
To be as sly and spry as I."

When Peter Rabbit shouted this, Reddy looked back and showed all his
teeth, but Peter only laughed, and Reddy trotted on. Peter watched him
out of sight.

"My! I wish I had such a handsome coat," he said, with a long sigh,
for you know Peter's coat is very plain, very plain, indeed.

"You wouldn't, if you had to wear it for the same reason that Reddy
Fox has to wear his. A good heart and honest ways are better than
fine clothes, Peter Rabbit."

Peter looked up. There was saucy, pert, little Jenny Wren fussing
around in one of the old bramble bushes.

"Hello, Jenny!" said Peter. "Why does Reddy wear a red coat?"

"Do you mean to say that you don't know?" Jenny Wren looked very hard
at Peter with her sharp eyes. "I thought everybody knew that! You
certainly are slow, Peter Rabbit. I haven't time to tell you about it
now. Go ask Grandfather Frog; he knows all about it." Jenny Wren
bustled off before Peter could find his tongue.

Now, you all know how full of curiosity Peter Rabbit is. Jenny Wren's
busy tongue had set that curiosity fairly boiling over. He just
couldn't sit still for wondering and wondering why Reddy Fox wears a
red coat. He had never thought anything about it before, but now he
couldn't get it out of his head. He just _had_ to know. So, making
sure that Reddy Fox had disappeared in the Green Forest, Peter started
for the Smiling Pool, lipperty-lipperty-lip, as fast as he could go.
There he found Grandfather Frog setting on his big green lily-pad,
just as usual.

"If you please, Grandfather Frog, why does Reddy Fox wear a red coat?"
panted Peter, quite out of breath.

"Chug-a-rum!" grunted Grandfather Frog crossly. "Don'