hid under a bush and watched for Mr. McGregor.

[Illustration]

Mr. McGregor came back and picked up the sack, and carried it off.

He carried it hanging down, as if it were rather heavy.

The Flopsy Bunnies followed at a safe distance.

[Illustration]

The watched him go into his house.

And then they crept up to the window to listen.

[Illustration]

Mr. McGregor threw down the sack on the stone floor in a way that would
have been extremely painful to the Flopsy Bunnies, if they had happened to
have been inside it.

They could hear him drag his chair on the flags, and chuckle--

"One, two, three, four, five, six leetle rabbits!" said Mr. McGregor.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"Eh? What's that? What have they been spoiling now?" enquired Mrs.
McGregor.

"One, two, three, four, five, six leetle fat rabbits!" repeated Mr.
McGregor, counting on his fingers--"one, two, three--"

"Don't you be silly; what do you mean, you silly old man?"

"In the sack! one, two, three, four, five, six!" replied Mr. McGregor.

(The youngest Flopsy Bunny got upon the window-sill.)

Mrs. McGregor took hold of the sack and felt it. She said she could feel
six, but they must be _old_ rabbits, because they were so hard and all
different shapes.

"Not fit to eat; but the skins will do fine to line my old cloak."

"Line your old cloak?" shouted Mr. McGregor--"I shall sell them and buy
myself baccy!"

"Rabbit tobacco! I shall skin them and cut off their heads."

[Illustration]

Mrs. McGregor untied the sack and put her hand inside.

When she felt the vegetables she became very very angry. She said that Mr.
McGregor had "done it a purpose."

[Illustration]

And Mr. McGregor was very angry too. One of the rotten marrows came flying
through the kitchen window, and hit the youngest Flopsy Bunny.

It was rather hurt.

[Illustration]

Then Benjamin and Flopsy thought that it was time to go home.

[Illustration]

So Mr. McGregor did not get his tobacco, and Mrs. McGregor did not get her
rabbit skins.

[Illustration]

But next Christmas Thomasina Tittlemouse got a present of enough
rabbit-wool to make herself a cloak and a hood, and a handsome muff and a
pair of warm mittens.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES

BY BEATRIX POTTER

F. WARNE & Co

End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, by Beatrix Potter

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBER