An Old Friend in a New Home 



could watch for flies and other winged insects. 

 He looked so much like Mr. Phoebe, save that 

 he was smaller, that any one would have known 

 they were cousins. "Chebec! Chebec! Che- 

 bee !" he repeated over and over, and with every 

 note jerked his tail. Now and then he would dart 

 out into the air and snap up something so small 

 that Peter, looking up from the ground, couldn't 

 see it at all. 



"Hello, Chebec!" cried Peter. "I'm glad to 

 see you back again. Are you going to build in 

 the Old Orchard this year?" 



"Of course I am," replied Chebec promptly. 

 "Mrs. Chebec and I have built here for the last 

 two or three years, and we wouldn't think of 

 going anywhere else. Mrs. Chebec is looking for 

 a place now. I suppose I ought to be helping 

 her, but I learned a long time ago, Peter Rabbit, 

 that in matters of this kind it is just as well not 

 to have any opinion at all. When Mrs. Chebec 

 has picked out just the place she wants, I'll help 

 her build the nest. It certainly is good to be back 

 here in the Old Orchard and planning a home once 

 more. We've made a terribly long journey, and 

 I for one am glad it's over." 



"I just saw your cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Phcebe, 

 and they already have a nest and eggs," said 

 Peter, 



[43] 



