“Lions? What are they?” he asked.
“I don’t believe there are any around here,” answered Buddie.
“I don’t believe there are, either,” said the Rabbit, with a self-satisfied smile. “But if there were I should teach them their place fast enough. The expression, Bold as a rabbit, is common enough—as common as, Wise as a goose, or, Silly as an owl, or, Fast as a snail, or, Sleepy as a weasel—and it’s a wonder you never heard it. Why, the word ‘hare-brained,’ or ‘rabbit-brained,’ means, bold to the point of recklessness.”
“Well,” thought Buddie, “if this isn’t the queerest place anybody ever got into. Dogs sing, beavers are lazy, and rabbits are bold as lions. Everything seems to be upside down. What next, I wonder? I suppose,” she said aloud, “your name is Mr. Bunny Cotton-Tayle.”
The Rabbit bowed.
“And your name?” he asked politely.
“Buddie—just Buddie.” She was afraid he might ask, “Which Buddie?” as the Laziest Beaver had asked.
The Rabbit again consulted his mirror, and inquired carelessly, as one inquires who does not expect information:
“You don’t happen to know, I suppose?”
“Why you wabble your nose?”