"I ought to be," replied Jimmy Rabbit, "because I painted it myself, the very next day after I finished a portrait of old Mr. Crow."
"It ought to be a good one, if you made it," said Freddie. "But wasn't it some time ago that you were an artist?"
"It was earlier in the summer," Jimmy[p. 94] Rabbit admitted. "Of course, Betsy Butterfly has changed somewhat since then. But this picture was a fine likeness of her at the time I painted it.... I suppose," he added, "I was the first one in the whole valley to perceive that she was going to be a beauty when she got her full growth."
"Do you suppose she'll send me the picture, if I ask her, so I can show it to Dusty Moth?" Freddie asked.
Jimmy Rabbit looked a bit doubtful. He pondered for a few moments. And then he said:
"I'll tell you what I'll do! To-morrow morning I'll see Betsy and I've no doubt that she'll loan me the picture if I promise to return it to her."
"That'll be great!" cried Freddie. "Meet me near the duck pond as soon as it's dark to-morrow night; and be sure to bring Betsy's picture with you!"
[p. 95]Then Freddie Firefly hurried off to find Dusty Moth, who happened likewise to be looking for him, because he had a question to ask.
They met shortly. And Dusty Moth immediately cried:
"Have you heard from her?"—meaning Betsy Butterfly, of course.