Old Briar-patch.

"Oh," said Peter with a very grand air, "I've been on a long journey to
see the Great World."

"Which means," said Sammy Jay with a chuckle, "that you've been in the
Old Pasture all this time, and let me tell you, Peter Rabbit, the Old
Pasture is a very small part of the Great World. By the way, Tommy Tit
the Chickadee was down here the other day and told us all about you. He
said that you had fallen in love with little Miss Fuzzytail, and he
guessed that you were going to make your home up there. What's the
matter? Did her father, Old Jed Thumper, drive you out?"

"No, he didn't!" snapped Peter angrily, "It's none of your business what
I came home for, Sammy Jay, but I'll tell you just the same. I came home
because I wanted to."

Sammy chuckled, for he dearly loves to tease Peter and make him angry.
Then the imp of mischief, who seems always to live just under that smart
cap of Sammy's, prompted him to ask: "Did you come home alone?"

Now Peter couldn't say "yes" for that would be an untruth, and whatever
faults Peter may have, he is at least truthful. So he just pretended not
to have heard Sammy's question.

Now when Sammy had asked the question he had thought nothing about it.
It had just popped into his head by way of something to say. But Sammy
Jay is sharp, and he noticed right away that Peter didn't answer but
began to talk about other things,