"I must have caught cold," Mr. Fox replied. "I've been chilly all the morning."
"You'd better go home," Jimmy Rabbit advised him. But Mr. Fox wouldn't have left for anything.
"Now he's choking!" Mr. Crow said. "I declare, I can't have my picture painted with such goings-on." And he started to fly away.
But Jimmy Rabbit begged him to stand still just a little longer.
"The picture is almost done," he said. "There!" he added, a bit later. "It's finished. And I know you'll be pleased."
It was clear that Mr. Fox was pleased, for he was actually beaming. Jimmy thought he had never seen him look so pleasant. Mr. Crow had to ask him to stand aside, so he could have a look.
"I should think I might gaze on my own picture," he grumbled.
At first Mr. Crow was delighted. Then he seemed somewhat puzzled.
"The face is good," he said. "And no one could ask for a better picture of a hat. But there's something that doesn't look quite right." And all at once Mr. Crow saw what was the matter. And he flew at the picture and ran his bill through it in a dozen places. "The idea!" he said. "I've never been so insulted in all my life!" And without another word he flew out of sight.