On a lovely bright morning, when the dew was still glistening in the grass, and all the little birds were singing happily in the green branches of the trees, Freddie the Fox was awaking from his nightly slumbers.
He yawned and stretched himself, and peeping out of his hole, sniffed the fresh morning air. As he did so he suddenly thought that he had slept rather longer than usual, and wondered if anything new had happened in the world since yesterday evening.
So he put his head altogether out of his hole, and, listening attentively, heard the sound of voices. Then he pushed a little further out, and saw two little animals standing in a respectful attitude a little distance from the mouth of his cave. Then they came forward.
“Good morning, Mr. Fox,” said they; and the one who said it was a young Badger, and his friend was a little Raccoon.
“Good morning to you, my neighbours,” said Freddie politely. “And what can I do for you this beautiful morning?”
“Mr. Fox,” said the Young Badger, “it is about that treasure which we were speaking yesterday. Do you not know that this very day the hands of the clock will be pointing just above towards the bedrooms of all the animals that live upon these hills, and when the sham invitation card is received, you and your friends must come at once to the place marked? Will you come?”
“I should feel great honour,” said Freddie, “in joining with my friends in a search for treasure. Do you think we ought to take all those rats that live in a row down in the valley? There are seven families, and a good many rats in a family, I believe.”
“Oh dear no!” said Young Raccoon, “they would eat up everything. ‘Tis just to two of those you must go.”
“And pray who may that be?” said Freddie, yawning again. “Those rats do like having a party, and they do like to come in when they think there is anything going on of which they are not to be told. When there was an eclipse of the moon last summer, they came to see how it was done.”
Young Badger laughed. “One of them was the Ragman,” he said, “and the eldest of the other family. The others know better, I think.”
“Well, do you remember,” said Freddie, “that within the last four or five days they tried condescendingly to pay me a visit, but I told them they’d better not?”
“Well, that is it,” said Young Badger. “They will bring us the diamonds for the necklace to Lady Hen’s daughter, which is to be a wedding present from Mr. Funk in honour of the happy wedding.”
“Lady Hen’s daughter is to be married!” cried Freddie the Fox.
“Yes. A great thing is going to happen. You must know it will court of all the animals in the hills where the diamonds are to be first shown. Only those friends of every one of them that wish to be invited, and their friends, can possibly manage to squeeze into the royal palace. No Frog or Toad will be invited, neither will any Crow or Raven be allowed to cross the porch,” said Young Badger.
“The Crows and Ravens would be now burning and now freezing,” said Young Raccoon; “but Frog and Toad are badly behaved, I must say.”
While Freddie was talking with Young Badger and Young Raccoon, there came a slight rustle in the hedge which grew nearer and nearer, fluttering from side to side, as if the doorkeeper of the Palace wanted to know who was coming. It was a great lady.
“Good morning, Mrs. Street,” said Freddie.
“And good morning to you, Mr. Fox,” said she. “Have those rabbits you recommended been to see your friend Mrs. Anthony?”
“I recommended those that did come,” said Freddie. “They are very lively. They are just going to sing a little comic song they have just got up between them.”
“Good,” said Mrs. Street. And Freddie the Fox continued talking to Young Badger and Young Raccoon, so there was no more said about the rabbits.
Just then, from the very nearest tree, the neighbouring squirrel put his head. “Oh, Johnny! Oh, my darling! Oh, my darling!” And Freddie looked down and saw his friend Billy the Rat was standing.
“Billy,” he said, “I am afraid you will have nothing to do with that song. I will disturb your rehearsal no longer.” And he bade good bye to Young Badger and Young Raccoon, and having had a little turn round broke off a twig of honeysuckle to chew as he went along.
Billy the Rat opened a court of inquiry. They got from their ladies the information; they sang their comic pieces; and going a few paces out of their town with all their rats them, Billy begged Freddie not to be angry if they asked him a few questions, to which he hoped he would give them clever and intelligent answers.
“Why, to be sure!” said Freddie the Fox. “I do not mind at all.”
“Did you not hear the alarm at the mouth of the cave yesterday shortly after dark, and the report that it was sounded?”
“No,” said Freddie, “I was asleep. I took it into my head to sleep a little longer yesterday evening.”
“How many exciting things to happen since!” said Billy the Rat.