The mice sat on their doorsteps cracking cherry-stones; they winked at
Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin Bunny.
Presently Peter let the pocket-handkerchief go again.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
They got amongst flower-pots, and frames, and tubs. Peter heard noises
worse than ever; his eyes were as big as lolly-pops!
He was a step or two in front of his cousin when he suddenly stopped.
This is what those little rabbits saw round that corner!
Little Benjamin took one look, and then, in half a minute less than no
time, he hid himself and Peter and the onions underneath a large
basket....
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
The cat got up and stretched herself, and came and sniffed at the basket.
Perhaps she liked the smell of onions!
Anyway, she sat down upon the top of the basket.
She sat there for _five hours_.
* * * * *
I cannot draw you a picture of Peter and Benjamin underneath the basket,
because it was quite dark, and because the smell of onions was fearful; it
made Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin cry.
The sun got round behind the wood, and it was quite late in the afternoon;
but still the cat sat upon the basket.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
At length there was a pitter-patter, pitter-patter, and some bits of
mortar fell from the wall above.
The cat looked up and saw old Mr. Benjamin Bunny prancing along the top of
the wall of the upper terrace.
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