CHAPTER XII 



SOME UNLIKE RELATIVES 



HAVING other things to attend to, or rather 

 having other things to arouse his curiosity, Peter 

 Rabbit did not visit the Old Orchard for several 

 days. When he did it was to find the entire 

 neighborhood quite upset. There was an indig- 

 nation meeting in progress in and around the tree 

 in which Chebec and his modest little wife had 

 their home. How the tongues did clatter ! Peter 

 knew that something had happened, but though 

 he listened with all his might he couldn't make 

 head or tail of it. 



Finally Peter managed to get the attention of 

 Jenny Wren. "What's happened?" demanded 

 Peter. " What's all this fuss about ? " 



Jenny Wren was so excited that she couldn't 

 keep still an instant. Her sharp little eyes snapped 

 and her tail was carried higher than ever. "It's 

 a disgrace ! It's a disgrace to the whole feathered 

 race, and something ought to be done about it!" 

 sputtered Jenny. "I'm ashamed to think that 

 such a contemptible creature wears feathers ! I 

 am so ! " 



[83] 



