Johnny Chuck was so tickled with his secret that it seemed as if he
_must_ share it with some one. He just couldn't keep it to himself any
longer.

"You won't tell any one?" said Johnny Chuck.

Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell a soul.

"Cross your heart," commanded Johnny Chuck.

Jimmy Skunk crossed his heart.

Then Johnny Chuck looked this way and looked that way to be sure that
no one was listening. Finally he whispered in Jimmy Skunk's ear:

"I've got a new home under the old apple tree in a corner of the Green
Meadows," said Johnny Chuck.

Of course Jimmy Skunk was very much surprised and very much interested,
so Johnny Chuck told him all about it.

"Now, remember, it's a secret," said Johnny Chuck, as Jimmy Skunk
started off down the Lone Little Path across the Green Meadows, to look
for some beetles.

"I'll remember," said Jimmy Skunk.

"And don't tell!" called Johnny Chuck.

Jimmy Skunk promised that he wouldn't tell. Then Johnny Chuck started
off up the Lone Little Path, whistling, and Jimmy Skunk trotted down
the Lone Little Path onto the Green Meadows.

Jimmy Skunk was thinking so much about Johnny Chuck's new home that he
quite forgot to look for beetles, and he almost ran into Peter Rabbit.

"Hello, Jimmy Skunk," said Peter Rabbit, "can't you see where you are
going? It must be you have something on your mind; what is it?"

"I was thinking of Johnny Chuck's new home," said Jimmy Skunk.

"Johnny Chuck's new home!" exclaimed Peter Rabbit. "Has Johnny Chuck
got a new home? Where is it?"

"Under the roots of the old apple tree in a corner of the Green
Meadows," said Jimmy Skunk, and then he clapped both hands over his
mouth. You see he hadn't really meant to tell. It just slipped out.

"Oh, but it's a secret!" cried Jimmy Skunk. "It's a secret, and you
mustn't tell. I guess Johnny Chuck won't mind if you know, Peter
Rabbit, but you mustn't tell any one else." Peter Rabbit promised he
wouldn't.

Now Peter Rabbit is very inquisitive, very inquisitive indeed. So as
soon as he had parted from Jimmy Skunk he made up his mind that he must
see the new home of Johnny Chuck. So off he started as fast as he
could go towards the old apple tree in a corner of the Green Meadows.
Half way there he met Reddy Fox.

"Hello, Peter Rabbit! Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked
Reddy Fox.

"Over to the old apple tree to see Johnny Chuck's new home," replied
Peter Rabbit as he