“Well, I wonder which way I shall go?” asked Flop Ear of himself. Just then he heard a bird, up in a tree over his head, laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” asked Flop Ear. “Do you see anything funny?”
“Yes,” replied the bird, still laughing, “I do.”
“What is it?” asked Flop Ear. “Tell me, and if I see it I will laugh also.”
“You may laugh if you like,” answered the bird, “but you can’t see at what I am laughing unless you get near a pool of water and look down in that. Then you will see yourself, for I am laughing at you. You do look funny! I hope you don’t mind being laughed at.”
“Not a bit!” cried Flop Ear in a happy voice. “I like my friends to laugh even at me. It makes them jolly.”
“Then it is all right,” chirped the bird. “If you do not mind telling me, Flop Ear, where have you been and where are you going?”
“I do not in the least mind telling you,” returned the rabbit. “So you know my name, too, do you?”
“Oh, it is easy to guess your name by looking at your floppy ear,” said the bird.
“And may I ask what your name is?” asked Flop Ear politely.