AN INVITATION 111 



beside. Then there are fresli scratclies on tlie bigf 

 chestnnt tree n[) by tlie hole where tlie braneh broke, 

 and on the eartli by tlie little rock caves, and Hod says 

 tliat means Coons. Do yon think that Qnick would 

 make a g-ood Coon dog, (hiddy ? tie has an everlasting- 

 bark, and that's what liod says you need in a Coon 

 dog." 



Nat came and stood with his back to the fire, s})read- 

 ing his hands betAyeen imaginary coat tails, speaking 

 so earnestly and wearing such a sportsman-like air, 

 that his father and uncle laughed outright. 



" What kind of forms did Rod find in the pasture, 

 and what have they to do with Rabbits ? " asked Dodo, 

 looking puzzled. '' I thought forms were the other 

 names for the moulds Mammy Bnn })uts the jelly and 

 blanc-mange in to harden, so when it's stitf and turns 

 out it is in a pretty shape instead of looking mussy 

 and wobbling all over the dish." 



"■ You are right there," said her father ; " but a Rab- 

 bit's form is quite different. •" It is its favorite bed, — 

 the hollow made by it wlien it lies down in the grass, 

 or among leaves and litter, — which after being used a 

 few times takes the form of the Rabbit's body." 



'* Oh, J understand that," said Dodo, eagerly; ''it's a 

 Rabbit mould, only instead of the mould making the 

 Rabbit the way it does w4th jelly, the jelly — no, I 

 mean the Rabbit — makes the mould. Rut please, uncle, 

 don't let the boys shoot the little nearby animals on 

 the farm, because I Avant to make friends with them, 

 and Rabbits are as funny and cunning as kittens, so Fm 

 sure they can't do any harm." 



AVhen the laughter had subsided. Dr. Roy took a 



