on the Green Meadows, when a tiny rustle behind him made him jump to his
feet with his heart in his mouth. But instead of the angry face of the
old gray Rabbit he saw--what do you think? Why, two of the softest,
gentlest eyes peeping at him from behind a big fern.




CHAPTER XI

PETER RABBIT HAS A SUDDEN CHANGE OF MIND


Whatever you decide to do
Make up your mind to see it through.
Peter Rabbit.

Peter Rabbit stared at the two soft, gentle eyes peeping at him from
behind the big fern just back of the sunning-bank in the far corner of
the Old Pasture. He had so fully expected to see the angry face of the
big, gray, old Rabbit who had made life so miserable for him that for a
minute he couldn't believe that he really saw what he did see. And so he
just stared and stared. It was very rude. Of course it was. It was very
rude indeed. It is always rude to stare at any one. So it was no wonder
that after a minute the two soft, gentle eyes disappeared behind one of
the great green leaves of the fern. Peter gave a great sigh. Then he
remembered how rude he had been to stare so.

"I--I beg your pardon," said Peter in his politest manner, which is very
polite indeed, for Peter can be very polite when he wants to be. "I beg