“So do I,” said the Rabbit. “We will go there first.” And off they went.
They came to Miss Woodchuck’s door and knocked, and she opened the door. “Mercy!” she cried. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
“We are Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Chipmunk,” said the two friends, “and we have come to make you a New Year’s call.”
“More likely you have come to steal the nuts!” said the lady angrily. “I know Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Chipmunk well, and neither of you is either of them. Who ever heard of a long-tailed rabbit or a long-eared squirrel? Get along with you! You are frights, and probably thieves as well.” And she shut the door in their faces.
The two friends walked a little way in silence; then they stopped and looked at each other.
“You said I looked fine!” said the Rabbit.
“I—I meant the tail!” said the Chipmunk. “It is a fine tail. But you said I looked splendid!”
“I was thinking of the ears!” said the Rabbit. “They are splendid ears.”
They walked on until they came once more to the looking-glass pond. They looked at themselves; then they looked at each other; then, all in a minute, off came the long ears and tail.
“There!” cried the Chipmunk. “Now we look as we were meant to look; and I am bound to say, Rabbit, that it is much more becoming to you.”