Old Briar-patch. You are Mrs. Quack, aren't you?"

"Yes," replied Mrs. Quack, "and you must be Peter Rabbit. I've heard
of you very often." All the time Mrs. Quack was swimming back and
forth and in little circles in the most uneasy way.

"I hope you've heard nothing but good of me," replied Peter.

Mrs. Quack stopped her uneasy swimming for a minute and almost
smiled as she looked at Peter, "The worst I have heard is that you
are very curious about other people's affairs," said she.

Peter looked a wee, wee bit foolish, and then he laughed right out.
"I guess that is true enough," said he. "I like to learn all I can,
and how can I learn without being curious? I'm curious right now.
I'm wondering what brings you to the Smiling Pool when you never
have been here before. It is the last place in the world I ever
expected to find you."

"That's why I'm here," replied Mrs. Quack. "I hope others feel the
same way. I came here because I just HAD to find some place where
people wouldn't expect to find me and so wouldn't come looking for
me. Little Joe Otter saw me yesterday on the Big River and told me
of this place, and so, because I just had to go somewhere, I came
here."

Peter's eyes opened very wide with surprise. "Why," he exclaimed,
"I should think you would be perfectly safe on the Big River! I
don't see how any harm can possibly come to you out there."