CHAPTER V 



PETER LEARNS SOMETHING HE HADN'T GUESSED 



RUNNING over to the Old Orchard very early 

 in the morning for a little gossip with Jenny Wren 

 and his other friends there had become a regular 

 thing with Peter Rabbit. He was learning a 

 great many things, and some of them were most 

 surprising. ' 



Now two of Peter's oldest and best friends in 

 the Old Orchard were Winsome Bluebird and 

 Welcome Robin. Every spring they arrived pretty 

 nearly together, though Winsome Bluebird usually 

 was a few days ahead of Welcome Robin. This 

 year Winsome had arrived while the snow still 

 lingered in patches. He was, as he always is, 

 the herald of sweet Mistress Spring. And when 

 Peter had heard for the first time Winsome's 

 soft, sweet whistle, which seemed to come from 

 nowhere in particular and from everywhere in 

 general, he had kicked up his long hind legs from 

 pure joy. Then, when a few days later he had 

 heard Welcome Robin's joyous message of " Cheer- 

 up! Cheer-up! Cheer-up! Cheer-up! Cheer!" 



