f the tree in which Jenny
Wren had her home.

"Jenny!" called Peter. "Jenny Wren! Jenny Wren!" No one answered him.
He could hear Mr. Wren singing in another tree, but he couldn't see him.
"Jenny! Jenny Wren! Jenny Wren!" called Peter again. This time Jenny
popped her head out, and her little eyes fairly snapped. "Didn't I tell
you the other day, Peter Rabbit, that I'm not to be disturbed? Didn't
I tell you that I've got seven eggs in here, and that I can't spend any
time gossiping? Didn't I, Peter Rabbit? Didn't I? Didn't I?"

"You certainly did, Jenny. You certainly did, and I'm sorry to disturb
you," replied Peter meekly. "I wouldn't have thought of doing such a
thing, but I just didn't know who else to go to."

"Go to for what?" snapped Jenny Wren. "What is it you've come to me
for?"

"Snake skins," replied Peter.

"Snake skins! Snake skins!" shrieked Jenny Wren. "What are you talking
about, Peter Rabbit? I never have anything to do with Snake skins and
don't want to. Ugh! It makes me shiver just to think of it."

"You don't understand," cried Peter hurriedly. "What I want to know
is, why should Cresty the Flycatcher ask me to please let him know if
I found any cast-off suits of the Snake family? He flew away before I
could ask him why he wants them, and so I came to you, because I know
you know everything, especially everything concerning your neighbors."

Jenny Wren looked as if she didn't know whether to feel flattered or
provoked. But Peter looked so innocent that she concluded he was trying
to say something nice.

CHAPTER VIII. Old Clothes and Old Houses.

"I can't stop to talk to you any longer now, Peter Rabbit," said
Jenny Wren, "but if you will come over here bright and early to-morrow
morning, while I am out to get my breakfast, I will tell you about
Cresty the Flycatcher and why he wants the cast-off clothes of some of
the Snake family. Perhaps I should say WHAT he wants of them instead
of WHY he wants them, for why any one should want anything to do with
Snakes is more then I can understand."

With this Jenny Wren disappeared inside her house, and there was nothing
for Peter to do but once more start for the dear Old Briar-patch. On his
way he couldn't resist the temptation to run over to the Green Forest,
which was just beyond the Old Orchard. He just HAD to find out if there
was anything new over there. Hardly had he reached it when he heard
a plaintive voice crying, "Pee-wee! Pee-wee!