"How long will it be before I learn to box well?" Cuffy inquired.
"You might learn next time," Pete said, "Better try it, anyhow," he advised.
"All right!" Cuffy said. He hoped that another time he would be able to show Pete how it felt to be pounded. "All right—I'll be here at the same time to-morrow."
So Pete trotted off spryly in one direction; and Cuffy trotted off in another, but not quite so spryly, for his head ached and one of his eyes was closed tight.
"Mercy sakes!" Mrs. Bear said, when Cuffy came into the house. "Look at those trousers!"
Cuffy looked at them as well as he could with his one good eye.
"And you're covered with mud!" his mother added severely. "What's the matter with your eye?" she demanded.
"I've been having fun—" Cuffy began. "I've been boxing—"
"Fun! Boxing! You've ruined your best trousers," she said. "You're a naughty little bear and you're going straight to bed. Who has been playing with you?" she asked.
Mrs. Bear was very much displeased when she learned about Cuffy's new friend. "I know who he is," she said. "His people are very rough. They're not nice bears at all. And I forbid you aver to play with that Peter again."