All the creatures who made their way through the thicket, or walked through grass and weeds, brushed these jewels from the plants; their coats were sprinkled with the bright drops, but the dew clung there no longer than to the feathers of the birds in the trees. The four-legged and the flying creatures, refreshed with the cool moisture, shook themselves; many drank the clear dew, and all hurried toward the warmth of the sun.

Perri and Porro had already had their first meal; they had been to the hazel bushes, carefully opened the green coverings, taken out the nuts, and stuffed themselves. They did not care whether the seed-shells were still whitish and soft, or showed a ripe brown; the food tasted wonderful after their sleep. They paid no attention to the jay, who scolded at them.

Then they bounded one after the other up the trunk of the oak, and played about among the twigs, wild with high spirits. Their red coats were dry, their hearts beat gaily, their breath came evenly, quite without effort; this mad speed was their usual pace. Although they did not realize it, while they thought they were playing, they were practicing flight, their only defense.

Below them the hare hopped from the bushes, deliberately, with caution. He sat down at the edge of the little greensward, where the sun warmed him as it sucked the bright dew from the leaves.

Perri was running along a branch which stretched out into the open; she saw the hare, and called Porro over. They both peered down at him with interest.

The hare sat still, his head slanted upward, taking in the sunshine. He had a brooding, careworn look, and seemed lost in thought. Yet he heard the slightest noise. Of course he had noticed the racing of the two, though he had not so much as raised his ears.

“A relative,” whispered Porro.

“What?” asked Perri, also in a whisper. “That giant?”

“We have many relatives,” Porro informed her, “very little ones and very big ones.”

“Isn’t he dangerous?” Perri inquired.

“No—I don’t think so. Anyway, he can’t climb.”

The hare suddenly shot up one ear, then the other, and sat bolt upright. His nose twitched violently in search of the scent.

“See,” said Porro, “he sits just the way we do. I told you he was a relative.”

“So? And where is his flag tail?”

“Oh, we’re the only ones with tails.”

“Hello!” Perri called.

The hare murmured something indistinct.

“Are you unhappy?” asked Perri.

“Not exactly unhappy,” replied the hare. “I have no reason to be jolly. I feel the way I always feel.”

“How do you feel?” Perri wanted to know.

The hare told her: “Afraid. . . . Life is very serious.”

“No,” Perri contradicted, “you mustn’t always be afraid. Life is wonderful!”

“It could be wonderful, if . . .” The hare sighed, and added, “Up there where you are, yes, I can imagine; up there life is wonderful.”

Porro thrust himself forward. “Please, can you tell us what love is? We’d like so much to know.”

“He wants to know,” said Perri indignantly. “He! He’s always asking silly questions.”

“All right,” Porro conceded, “I want to know. And it’s not silly for me to ask.”

“You’re right,” said the hare, “your question isn’t silly at all. Only a little premature, I think. Love is something very great, and I’ll be glad to tell you about it. You see—”

Suddenly he stopped. His ears jerked up. He made a half-turn, as if to run in the direction from which he had come.

“Tell me! Go on!” Porro urged. But the hare zigzagged away, his ears flat along his back, racing with the speed of terror.

The two looked after him in amazement, watching his zigzag course as the white tail kept bobbing up and down.

“What’s wrong with him?” Porro turned to the magpie, who had just fluttered up. “Why is he afraid?” he even asked the jay, who did not answer, of course, but merely screeched, “Look out! Look out!” and flew on.

“You’re above the wind here,” the magpie explained, “or you’d catch the scent, and would know how wise it is for the hare to run to safety. Watch!”

“Oughtn’t we to look out for ourselves?” said Porro, peering around.

“Stay where you are,” the magpie advised.