“Oh, did you meet Dido?” cried Flop Ear, looking at Lightfoot in a funny way. “Isn’t he the dearest old bear that ever was?”
“I liked him,” said Lightfoot.
“And he’s almost as jolly as Tum Tum, the jolly elephant. Tum Tum is in a book, too.”
“What’s all this about being in a book?” asked Lightfoot.
“Well, I don’t exactly understand it myself,” answered Flop Ear. “But I know children like to read the books about us. Tell me, have you had any adventures?”
“I should say I had!” cried Lightfoot. “I ran away, and I was on a canal boat, and I climbed a hill of coal and—”
“That’s enough!” cried Flop Ear, raising one paw. “You’ll find yourself in a book before you know it. Then you’ll understand without my telling you. Would you like to have a bit of cabbage?”
“I should say I would,” cried Lightfoot. “I’ve been living on grass, berries and leaves—”
“Well, I brought some cabbage leaves with me when I came for a walk this morning,” said Flop Ear, “and there’s more than I want, and you are welcome to them.” From the ground where he had dropped it Flop Ear picked up a cabbage leaf and hopped with it over to Lightfoot. The goat was glad to get it, and while he was chewing it he told the rabbit of running away from the park. In his turn Flop Ear told how he had been caught by a boy and how he had gnawed his way out with the mice, meeting Grandma Munch in the woods.
“And so I’ve lived in the woods ever since,” said Flop Ear.