"You see," said Peter Rabbit, "it's almost Easter and I haven't found a single egg."
"An egg!" exclaimed old Mr. Toad. "Bless my stars! What do you want of an egg, Peter Rabbit? You don't eat eggs."
"I don't want just one egg, oh, no, no indeed! I want a lot of eggs," said Peter. "You see, Mr. Toad, I was going to have an Easter egg rolling, and here it is almost Easter and not an egg to be found!" Peter's eyes filled with tears again.
Old Mr. Toad rolled one eye up at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun and winked. "Have you seen Mrs. Grouse and Mrs. Pheasant?" asked old Mr. Toad.
"Yes," said Peter Rabbit, "and they won't have any eggs until after Easter."
"Have you been to see Mrs. Quack?" asked old Mr. Toad.
"Yes," said Peter Rabbit, "and she says she can't spare a single one."
Old Mr. Toad looked very thoughtful. He scratched the tip of his nose with his left hind foot. Then he winked once more at jolly, round, red Mr. Sun. "Have you been to see Jimmy Skunk?" he inquired.
Peter Rabbit's big eyes opened very wide. "Jimmy Skunk!" he exclaimed. "Jimmy Skunk! What does Jimmy Skunk have to do with eggs?"
Old Mr. Toad chuckled deep down in his throat. He chuckled and chuckled until he shook all over.