, and Peter just fell down in the snow right where
he was, too tired and worn out to move.

CHAPTER XVII

_Danny Meadow Mouse Becomes Worried_

Danny Meadow Mouse limped around through the dear Old Briar-patch,
where he had lived with Peter Rabbit ever since he had squirmed out
of the claws of Hooty the Owl and dropped there, right at the feet
of Peter Rabbit. Danny limped because he was still lame and sore
from Hooty's terrible claws, but he didn't let himself think much
about that, because he was so thankful to be alive at all. So he
limped around in the Old Briar-patch, picking up seed which had
fallen on the snow, and sometimes pulling down a few of the red
berries which cling all winter to the wild rose bushes. The seeds in
these were very nice indeed, and Danny always felt especially good
after a meal of them.

Danny Meadow Mouse had grown very fond of Peter Rabbit, for Peter
had been very, very good to him. Danny felt that he never, never
could repay all of Peter's kindness. It had been very good of Peter
to offer to share the Old Briar-patch with Danny, because Danny was
so far from his own home that it would not be safe for him to try to
get back there. But Peter had done more than that. He had taken care
of Danny, such good care, during the first few days after Danny's
escape from Hooty the Owl. He had brought good things to eat while
Danny was too weak and sore to get things for himself. Oh, Peter had
been very good indeed to him!

But now, as Danny limped around, he was not happy. No, sir, he was
not happy. The truth is, Danny Meadow Mouse was worried. It was a
different kind of worry from any he had known before. You see, for
the first time in his life, Danny was worrying about someone else.
He was worrying about Peter Rabbit. Peter had been gone from the Old
Briar-patch a whole night and a whole day. He often was gone all
night, but never all day too. Danny was sure that something had
happened to Peter. He thought of how he had begged Peter not to go
up to Farmer Brown's young peach orchard. He had felt in his bones
that it was not safe, that something dreadful would happen to Peter.
How Peter had laughed at him and bravely started off! Why hadn't he
come home?

As he limped around, Danny talked to himself:

"Why cannot people be content
With all the good things that are sent,
And mind their own affairs at home
Instead of going forth to roam?"

It was now the second night since