"I can tell you that easily enough," said a little voice so close to his
elbow that it made him jump.

He looked around and saw close to him a brown beetle, sitting on a
blackberry leaf. Teddy looked at the beetle for a while in silence, and
then he said, "Well, why is it they're going?"

"It's all because of old Mrs. Owl," said the beetle. "She and old
Father Owl used to live deep in the woods in a hollow tree, but one time
they determined to move out to the edge of the hill, because the air was
better, and what tree should they choose for their home but this very
one where Granddaddy Thistletop has been living as long as I can
remember. Then when the owls were all settled they began to complain.
They said that Granddaddy Thistletop and Rosine were so noisy all day
that they couldn't sleep.

"After the little owls hatched out it was worse than ever, for the old
mother said that every time Rosine cooked the dinner it made the little
owls sneeze, and so the fairies must go."

"I wouldn't have gone," cried Teddy.

"Oh, yes you would," said the beetle. "The owls could have stopped up
the doors and windows, or they could--well, they could have done almost
anything, they're so big. You may go in and look at the house, if you
want to. I have to go down the bush and see old Mrs. Ant. Good-bye! I'll
see you again after a while."

When the beetle had gone, Teddy climbed up to the knot-hole and went in.