Page 22 - My FlipBook

The strange rabbit stopped dancing, and came quite close. He

came so close this time that his long whiskers brushed the

Velveteen Rabbit's ear, and then he wrinkled his nose suddenly

and flattened his ears and jumped backwards.

"He doesn't smell right!" he exclaimed. "He isn't a rabbit at all! He

isn't real!"

"I am Real!" said the little Rabbit. "I am Real! The Boy said so!" And

he nearly began to cry.

Just then there was a sound of footsteps, and the Boy ran past near

them, and with a stamp of feet and a flash of white tails the two

strange rabbits disappeared.

"Come back and play with me!" called the little Rabbit. "Oh, do

come back! I know I am Real!"

But there was no answer, only the little ants ran to and fro, and

the bracken swayed gently where the two strangers had passed.

The Velveteen Rabbit was all alone.

"Oh, dear!" he thought. "Why did they run away like that? Why

couldn't they stop and talk to me?"

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