Mrs. Woodchuck looked at him somewhat doubtfully.
“Young ground hogs like you aren’t supposed to go out this time of year,” she said. “It’s still quite cold, you know.”
“Please, Mother!”
“Well, you must wear plenty of warm clothing,” his mother told him. And she gave him so many coats to put on that Billy would not have known himself if he had looked in the surface of the brook. Of course, he couldn’t do that anyhow, then, for the brook was covered with ice.
When Billy was ready they stole out of the room, leaving the other children sound asleep.
“Whew!” said Billy Woodchuck when they stepped outside at last. “How cold it is!”
The sun was shining brightly, for all the air was so chilly. And Billy had a fine time chasing his shadow around the pasture. But he never could quite catch it. Sometimes he thought he was going to. But whenever he made a pounce at it his shadow moved just as quickly. And then he had to begin all over again.
“We’d better go in,” Mrs. Woodchuck said at last. And she looked down rather sadly at her own shadow, as if something had disappointed her.
“Oh, no!” Billy pleaded. “Let’s stay out a while longer.”
“It’s too cold,” his mother answered.