himself, but speaking aloud.

"He can't, and none of his family can," said a gruff voice.

Happy Jack turned to find Old Mr. Toad sitting in the Lone Little
Path.

"Why not?" asked Happy Jack.

"Ask Grandfather Frog; he knows," replied Old Mr. Toad, and started on
about his business.

And this is how it happens that Grandfather Frog told this story to
the little meadow and forest people gathered around him on the bank of
the Smiling Pool.

"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog. "Old Mr. Rabbit, the grandfather
a thousand times removed of Peter Rabbit, was always getting into
trouble. Yes, Sir, old Mr. Rabbit was always getting into trouble.
Seemed like he wouldn't be happy if he couldn't get into trouble. It
was all because he was so dreadfully curious about other people's
business, just as Peter Rabbit is now. It seemed that he was just born
to be curious and so, of course, to get into trouble.

"One day word came to the Green Forest and to the Green Meadows that
Old Mother Nature was coming to see how all the little meadow and
forest people were getting along, to settle all the little troubles
and fusses between them, and to find out who were and who were not
obeying the orders she had given them when she had visited them last.
My, my, my, such a hurrying and scurrying and worrying as there was!