Frog was feeling good-natured in spite of his gruff greeting.

"If you please, Grandfather Frog, why doesn't Mr. Greensnake wink at
us when we wink at him?" he asked.

"Chug-a-rum! Because he can't," replied Grandfather Frog.

"Can't!" cried Peter Rabbit and Johnny Chuck together.

"That's what I said--can't," replied Grandfather Frog. "And no more
can Mr. Blacksnake, or Mr. Rattlesnake, or Mr. Gophersnake, or any
other member of the Snake family."

"Why not?" cried Peter and Johnny, all in the same breath.

"Chug-a-rum!" said Grandfather Frog, folding his hands across his
white and yellow waistcoat, "if you will sit still until I finish,
I'll tell you; but if you move or ask any foolish questions, I'll stop
right where I am, and you'll never hear the end of the story, for no
one else knows it."

Of course Peter and Johnny promised to sit perfectly still and not say
a word. After they had made themselves comfortable, Grandfather Frog
cleared his throat as if to begin, but for a long time he didn't say a
word. Once Peter opened his mouth to ask why, but remembered in time
and closed it again without making a sound.

At last Grandfather Frog cleared his throat once more, and with a
far-away look in his great, goggly eyes began: