78 FLUFF-BUTTON THE RABBIT 
world itself, is yet born anew every year the mad 
spirit of Spring. 
Even old Mutch felt that the season was changing. 
As for Cuni, she leaped three feet into the air, and 
tried to play at hide and seek with herself round 
an ash tree ; but Mutch, who was old and surly, 
chased her into a bramble bush. It is a curious 
thing that, just as in human society some old spinsters 
ape masculine dress and ways, and prate much 
about the Rights of Women, because, poor dears, 
they do not know what those rights really are ; so 
in the woods old doe rabbits or old hen birds often 
gradually adopt the colours and language of the 
other sex. Therefore Mutch coughed in a deep 
voice and gobbled grass untidily like any old buck 
rabbit, but Cuni fed daintily and watched the 
stormy sunrise. 
Presently she heard a rustle in the celandines, 
and sniffed cautiously to discover whether that 
which was coming were harmless rabbit, slinking 
stoat, or prowling cat. Suddenly there was a crisp, 
short thump which made the Copse ring : it was 
a signal. The old doe rose on her hind legs and 
listened ; but Cuni peeped through the brambles 
to see from where the noise came. 
Fluff-Button sat and kicked the ground loudly 
and persistently. He did not know why he did so 
