"Though I am homely, lank and lean,
I can at least be neat and clean,"

said he, as he started back for the sunning-bank.




CHAPTER XVII

PETER MEETS MISS FUZZYTAIL


That this is true there's no denying--
There's nothing in the world like trying.
Peter Rabbit.

Peter Rabbit was feeling better. Certainly he was looking better. You
see, just as soon as Old Mother Nature saw that Peter was trying to look
as well as he could, and was keeping himself as neat and tidy as he knew
how, she was ready to help, as she always is. She did her best with the
rents in his coat, made by the claws of Hooty the Owl and the teeth of
Old Jed Thumper, and so it wasn't long before Peter's coat looked nearly
as good as new. Then, too, Peter was getting enough to eat these days.
Days and days had passed since he had seen Old Jed Thumper, and this had
given him time to eat and sleep.

Peter wondered what had become of Old Jed Thumper. "Perhaps something
has happened to him," thought Peter. "I--I almost hope something has."
Then, being ashamed of such a wish, he added, "Something not very