AN INVITATION 111 



beside. Then there are fresh scratclies on the big 

 chestnut tree up by the hole where the branch broke, 

 and on the earth by the little rock caves, and Rod says 

 that means Coons. Do yon think that Quick -would 

 make a good Coon dog, daddy ? He has an everlasting 

 bark, and that's what Hod says you need in a Coou 

 dog." 



Nat came and stood with his back to the fire, spread- 

 ing his hands between 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 wliat have they to do with Rabbits ? " asked Dodo, 

 looking iDuzzled. " I thought forms were the other 

 names for the moulds jNIammy Bun puts the jelly and 

 blanc-mange in to harden, so when it's stiff 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 when 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, I understand that," said Dodo, eagerly ; "it's a 

 Rabbit mould, only instead of the mould making the 

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

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

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

 the farm, because I want to make friends Avith them, 

 and Rabbits are as funny and cunning as kittens, so I'm 

 sure they can't do any harm." 



When the laughter had subsided. Dr. Roy took a 



